Belgian synagogue rocked by explosion in ‘antisemitic’ attack

An explosion struck a synagogue in the Walloon city of Liège early Monday morning, causing material damage in an “act of antisemitism,” officials said. No one was injured or killed.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever condemned the attack on social media: “Antisemitism is an attack on our values and our society, and we must fight it unequivocally. We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in Liège and across the country.”

Belgium’s Interior Minister Bernard Quintin described the incident as an “abject antisemitic act” targeting Belgium’s Jewish community and said: “Security measures around similar sites will continue to be strengthened.”

Belgium’s federal judicial police anti-terrorism unit and the federal prosecutor’s office are investigating the incident.

A spokesperson for the Liège mayor’s office told POLITICO: “The mayor and the municipal executive express their strongest condemnation of this extremely violent act of antisemitism, which runs counter to Liège’s tradition of respect for others. There can be no question of importing external conflicts into our city.”

According to the mayor’s office, the blast caused damage to the building. Local media reported that windows on the building’s front façade were blown out.

The mayor’s office said a press briefing would be held later in the day.

Israel’s Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Idit Rosenzweig-Abu also condemned the attack. “I was shocked by the news of the attack in Liége. I am in touch with the community that is understandingly shaken and terrified. I agree with PM De Wever who said that this is an attack on Belgian society as a whole,” she said.

“To prevent such attacks,  I hope we would not only see an increase in Jewish communities’ security but also a determination to fight against hate speech that incites them.”