A man set himself on fire outside of the historic Great Synagogue in Tunis, Tunisia, on Friday, the country's interior ministry confirmed.
The man reportedly ran toward a security officer and was shot by a second officer out of precaution, the ministry said.
One police officer was wounded during the incident and is receiving treatment for burns. A nearby civilian was also hurt and is receiving medical attention. The nature of the injury was not disclosed, but the ministry reported that he is in stable condition.
The arsonist has been identified and was said to have been suffering from psychological problems, the ministry added.
Footage of the fire circulating online, which The Jerusalem Post cannot authenticate, revealed a large flame and a man running around while alight.
The ministry added that an investigation of the incident is underway.
Danger for Jews in Tunisia
The American Jewish Committee said they were "horrified" by the news - noting that synagogues have been targeted in the country over the last few years.
"In May 2023, five people were killed in a terror attack near Tunisia's historic El Ghriba Synagogue on the island of Djerba during the annual Jewish pilgrimage during Lag BaOmer; in October 2023, part of the El Hamma Synagogue complex was burned in an arson attack; and in February 2024, the courtyard of a Sfax synagogue was burned," the AJC said in a statement.
"These have been hard years for all Tunisians - and especially the Jewish community. Recent attempts to promote hate and division must not be allowed to overcome Tunisia's pluralistic identity."
The Post previously reported that the security situation for Jews in Tunisia was unstable and that local Jews there were harassed by government bodies.
A senior Israeli government official said in a closed discussion with Jewish leaders in 2023 that "in a small Jewish community in Tunisia, Jews are being picked on by the press and by local police, with a sense of antisemitism coming from the local government."
A diplomatic source told the Post that the Jewish community in Tunisia was "consistent with internal reports stating that the Tunisian police have been hostile towards the Jews."
The Post reported that the Jewish Agency and the Israeli government were working on secret plans to help any Jew who wished to make aliyah do so.
In response to the 2023 shooting in the synagogue, Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli tweeted that Israel had agreed to "a joint action that would help the members of the community who wish to immigrate to Israel," with the Jewish Agency.