Qatar condemns attack on Tunisia's Djerba Island

Six people have been killed after an attack near a synagogue on Tunisia’s Djerba island that draws hundreds of Jews from Europe and Israel during an annual pilgrimage each year.

The attack on Tuesday was carried out by a guard from Tunisia’s National Guard naval centre in the town of Aghir on Djerba. He first used his weapon to shoot a colleague and seize his ammunition before moving towards Ghriba Synagogue, the interior ministry said in a statement.

The attacker fired indiscriminately at security units located near the synagogue, killing two visitors and a police officer.

Security forces then shot the attacker dead, the interior ministry said.

Djerba – a holiday destination off the coast of southern Tunisia, 500km (300 miles) from the capital Tunis – is home to Africa’s oldest synagogue and the annual pilgrimage has had tight security since al-Qaeda attacked the religious site in 2002 with a truck bomb that killed 21 Western tourists.

The sound of gunshots at the synagogue sparked panic among the hundreds of pilgrims, according to local media.

Qatar has expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the attack.

In its statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar's firm stance on rejecting violence, terrorism, and criminal acts, regardless of the motives and reasons.

The ministry extended Qatar's condolences to relatives of the victims, the Tunisian government, and the people of Tunisia, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.