Tunisia: Heightened security after axe attack on local jeweler ahead of annual pilgrimage in Djerba

Authorities in Tunisia have ramped up security measures on the island of Djerba following an axe attack on a local Jewish jeweler, just days before the island hosts its annual Lag B’Omer pilgrimage. The victim, a 50-year-old shop owner, sustained defensive injuries and was admitted to hospital on Thursday, May 8, though he is expected to be discharged the following day.

The incident occurred in the vicinity of the El-Ghriba synagogue, one of the oldest Jewish sites in Africa, which annually attracts thousands of visitors for religious celebrations.

Rene Trabelsi, a prominent figure in the local Jewish community and Tunisia’s former tourism minister, called for calm, emphasizing that it was premature to draw conclusions about the motive behind the assault. “We fully trust Tunisian authorities because we’re Tunisian too,” he remarked, reinforcing the community’s longstanding ties to the nation.

While no official statement has been released by the government, the timing of the incident has revived memories of a deadly 2023 attack during the same festival, prompting enhanced security arrangements across the island.