Belgium describes a blast near a synagogue as a ‘despicable antisemitic attack’
BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said Monday that an explosion near a synagogue in the eastern city of Liege overnight was “a despicable antisemitic act” and that federal prosecutors were investigating, as several countries in Europe tighten security due to the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
Liege police said that the blast outside the synagogue happened in the early hours of Monday morning. No one was injured but the windows of a building in front of the synagogue were blown out.
The street remained blocked off while investigators combed the area, a statement said.
“The explosion in front of the Liege synagogue was a despicable antisemitic act that directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium,” Quintin said in a post on X. “Security around similar sites will continue to be strengthened.” He made no link between the blast and the Iran war.
Belgium, France and Germany are among a number of European countries that have said they intended to beef up security in response to the war, and have also insisted that they are playing no active role in the conflict alongside the United States and Israel.
Belgium’s transport minister has demanded that security be tightened around the country’s rail network.