An explosion occurred at a synagogue in Liège, Belgium, around 4 AM on Monday morning, causing significant material damage to the building. The blast broke windows in the synagogue and nearby buildings, but no injuries were reported. The federal prosecutor has taken over the case, with anti-terrorism investigators sent to the scene.
Belgian authorities are investigating the explosion as a potential terrorist act. ' The Belgian government, including Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Interior Minister Bernard Cluydt, also condemned the explosion as an antisemitic act targeting the Jewish community. Security measures have been increased in Belgium following the incident.
The synagogue, a preserved building from 1899 that also functions as a museum, serves a Jewish community numbering about 50,000 in Belgium. The country has maintained heightened security measures in recent years, particularly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, with the current terror threat level remaining at 3 out of 4, classified as grave. Mayor Demeyer linked the explosion indirectly to the Middle East conflict, reflecting concerns about imported tensions.
However, the investigation into the Liège explosion involves uncertainty, with possible leads including Iranian, Palestinian, and antifascist connections, though these remain hypotheses with no confirmation yet. The exact perpetrator of the attack has not been identified. In a separate incident in Rotterdam, a synagogue was targeted in an arson attack around 3:40 AM on a Friday.
That fire was quickly extinguished, resulting in no injuries or arrests. The motive behind the Rotterdam arson remains unclear, and it is unknown whether the Liège and Rotterdam incidents are directly connected to each other or to broader geopolitical conflicts. Some reports frame the Liège explosion and Rotterdam arson as part of a series of suspected antisemitic acts since the onset of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
This perspective contrasts with views that might treat the Liège event as an isolated incident with material damage only, though official statements emphasize its antisemitic nature within a context of heightened threats. Meanwhile, in Sweden, unrelated legal and security matters are unfolding. In Sandviken, a 55-year-old woman initially claimed assault by a neighbor in a laundry room, but police found this untrue.
The 35-year-old neighbor accused the woman of breaking in and stealing laundry, and the 55-year-old is now suspected of damage and theft. Separately, a Russian crew member of the ship Caffa was arrested for using false documents. The Swedish Prosecution Authority alleges the crew member showed fake maritime certificates during a Coast Guard search and is suspected of crimes against maritime and ship safety laws, according to senior prosecutor Adrien Combier-Hogg.
The status of that investigation is currently unclear. In Göteborg, two men, aged 24 and 22, are charged in connection with a double murder on April 14 last year, which is linked to criminal conflicts on Hisingen. Prosecutor Ulrika Åberg states the 24-year-old is charged with two murders and an attempted murder, while the 22-year-old is charged with aiding murder and attempted murder, plus serious weapons offenses.
The specific evidence leading to these charges has not been disclosed. Nationwide, Swedish police are conducting extra speed checks during a traffic week. ' As investigations continue in Liège, authorities are piecing together evidence while reinforcing security for vulnerable communities.