A synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège sustained damage from an explosion that occurred in the early hours of Monday, authorities confirmed. The incident took place around 4:00 AM local time, impacting the area in front of the synagogue. While windows across the street were affected, police reported no injuries as a result of the blast.
Willy Demeyer, the city’s mayor, characterized the event as “an antisemitic act.” Prime Minister Bart De Wever later expressed solidarity with the Jewish community on social media, stating, “We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.”
The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office, responsible for investigating terrorism and organized crime, is heading the inquiry into the incident. Following the explosion, law enforcement promptly established a security perimeter around the site, and the street remained closed throughout Monday morning as investigations proceeded.
One local resident described the incident, noting that the explosion caused her windows to shake. She recounted to public broadcaster RTBF, “We immediately understood it was an explosion. But we thought it was a gas explosion.”
Several prominent Belgian political figures took to social media to denounce the event. Prime Minister De Wever posted on X, emphasizing, “Antisemitism is an attack on our values and our society, and we must combat it unequivocally.” He added, “We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in Liège and throughout the country.”
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned the incident as a “despicable antisemitic act that directly targeted Belgium’s Jewish community.” He indicated that security measures at similar locations would continue, noting that security services had already been maintaining a high level of vigilance due to concerns about potential threats stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Mayor Demeyer commented to RTBF, “We cannot allow foreign conflicts to be imported into our city.” This statement appeared to reference the current conflict in the Middle East, which was precipitated by strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran. Earlier in October, three individuals were apprehended on suspicion of planning a drone attack targeting the country’s prime minister.
Prosecutors had previously described this alleged plot as a “jihadist-inspired terrorist attack” aimed at De Wever and other politicians. The synagogue in Liège, originally constructed in 1899, also functions as a museum dedicated to the history of the city’s Jewish community, according to its official website.