Jewish jeweler hospitalized after axe attack in Tunisia
DJERBA, Tunisia (AP) — The Jewish owner of a jewelry store in Tunisia was hospitalized Thursday after an axe attack on the island where Africa's oldest synagogue is located.
The 50-year-old man was admitted to a hospital in Djerba, where many of Tunisia's remaining 1,500 Jews reside, community leader Rene Trabelsi told The Associated Press.
The attack comes one week before Jewish pilgrims are expected in Djerba for the holiday Lag B'Omer. Across the island and at the 26-century-old El-Ghriba synagogue, Jews welcome thousands each year for three days of festivities.
Trabelsi, who is Jewish and served as Tunisia's tourism minister from 2018 to 2020, said little was known about the attacker, adding he did not assume it had to do with religion or the holiday, but would await findings from Tunisian authorities about potential motives.
'We fully trust Tunisian authorities because we're Tunisian too,' he said.
Trabelsi said that the store owner was expected to be released from the hospital on Friday after sustaining defensive wounds.
Tunisian police have expanded security on the island, Trabelsi said.
Two years ago, a 30-year-old Tunisian national guardsman killed two Jewish pilgrims and three security officers during the festival. Events were scaled back last year.
Tunisian authorities have not commented on reports of the attack.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
3 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Explosion at a US air base in southern Japan injures 4 Japanese soldiers
TOKYO (AP) — An explosion at a storage site for unexploded wartime ordnances at a U.S. military base on Japan's southern island of Okinawa injured four Japanese soldiers, though the injuries are not life threatening, officials said Monday. The four soldiers had injuries to their fingers while working at a facility that belongs to Okinawa prefecture to store unexploded ordnance found on the island, where one of the harshest battles of World War II was fought, local officials said.
Toronto Star
4 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Explosion at a US air base in southern Japan injures at least 1 Japanese soldier
TOKYO (AP) — An explosion at or near a U.S. military base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa injured at least one Japanese soldier but the injury is not life threatening, Japanese defense officials said Monday. The Self Defense Force's joint staff said they are looking into reports of an explosion at Kadena Air Base that occurred while a team of Japanese soldiers that specializes in handling unexploded ordnance was working near or at the base.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Explosion at a US air base in southern Japan injures at least 1 Japanese soldier
TOKYO (AP) — An explosion at or near a U.S. military base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa injured at least one Japanese soldier but the injury is not life threatening, Japanese defense officials said Monday. The Self Defense Force's joint staff said they are looking into reports of an explosion at Kadena Air Base that occurred while a team of Japanese soldiers that specializes in handling unexploded ordnance was working near or at the base. The SDF said they are trying to confirm the cause of the accident and where it occurred.
