The death toll from a synagogue gun attack on the Tunisian island of Djerba during an annual Jewish pilgrimage has risen to five, Tunisia’s TAP news agency said on Wednesday.

Two Jewish pilgrims and three Tunisian police guards were shot dead during the firing spree at the Ghriba synagogue on Tuesday.

Tunisian authorities opened an investigation into the attack, and it wasn’t known if the Jewish pilgrims were specifically targeted by the gunman, who was quickly slain by security guards before he could enter the synagogue complex. Little is known about the gunman’s identity.

A police guard who had been hospitalised in the immediate aftermath died from his wounds on Wednesday, according to a medical official cited by TAP, while four other members of the security forces remain hospitalized in Djerba, including one who is in critical condition.

Ghriba Synagogue committee chair Perez Trabelsi was in the synagogue during the attack and told of his terror “when the sound of the cartridges broke out”.

“I was scared, as were most of the people gathered in the oukala, a large space adjacent to the synagogue. Everyone was panicked. Many took refuge in the rooms for fear of being hit by the shots that came from outside,” he said.

He was saddened that the pilgrimage to the historic synagogue that is revered in Judaism “was spoiled by those who wish Tunisia harm”, he said.

More pilgrims than have been seen in recent years came to Ghribi this year.