UAE strongly condemns attack near Ghriba synagogue in southern Tunisia

Tunisian police take positions near the Ghriba synagogue during a shootout in Djerba. AFP

The UAE has strongly condemned the attack near the Ghriba synagogue on the southern Tunisian island of Djerba, which killed a number of people.

UAE Ambassador to Tunisia Imane Salami said in a statement that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability and contradicting humanitarian values and principles.

The Ambassador praised the vigilance and efficiency of the Tunisian government in dealing with these situations, expressing her sincere condolences to the Government of the Republic of Tunisia and its brotherly people and her sympathy to the families of the victims of this heinous crime.

According to a toll announced by the Tunisian Interior Ministry, five people, including three security personnel, were killed and nine people, including five security personnel, were wounded in a shooting in the vicinity of the Ghariba synagogue on the island of Djerba, south of Tunisia.

The ministry said in a statement that a security officer at a National Guard station on the outskirts of Djerba Island opened fire on a colleague, killing him before seizing ammunition trying to reach the synagogue.

The attacker later opened fire on a security patrol in the vicinity of the synagogue, leaving six security personnel wounded, one of whom later died of his wounds, while the security patrol liquidated the attacker.

The Interior Ministry also announced that two civilians (a Frenchman and a Tunisian) were killed among the visitors to the synagogue and four others were wounded.

The statement added: «The Ministry of Interior confirms that the temple (synagogue) has been surrounded and possessed and secured all those inside and outside the temple», noting that the search continues to find out the motives of this «treacherous and cowardly attack».

For its part, the French embassy in Tunisia announced yesterday that it had set up a "crisis unit" and an emergency hotline after five people, including a Frenchman, were killed in the shooting incident on the island of Djerba.