Deadly synagogue attack in Tunisia was premeditated, interior minister says

A Tunisian national guardsman behind an attack that killed five people intentionally targeted the ancient synagogue on the Mediterranean island of Djerba in a premeditated act, Tunisia’s interior minister said Thursday.

Interior Minister Kamel Fekih pledged to “spare no effort to ensure the stability of the country” and to protect foreigners after Tuesday’s attack. Three Tunisian servicemen and two civilians attending an international pilgrimage at the El Ghriba synagogue were killed. A dozen others were wounded.

El Ghriba is believed to be one of the world’s oldest Jewish temples. Tunisian authorities revealed the gunman’s name — Wissam Khazri — and said he planned the attack, but they gave no explanation of why.

Fekih said security forces killed the gunman within 120 seconds of arriving outside the synagogue complex. The minister described the shooting as a “cowardly criminal attack” but refrained from calling it a terrorist act.

Read more: France 24