An explosion damaged a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège early Monday morning, authorities confirmed, in what city officials are calling an

antisemitic act.

The blast occurred at approximately 04:00 local time (03:00 GMT) in front of the synagogue, shattering windows along the street and damaging the building’s main door. Fortunately, no one was injured, police said.

“We cannot allow foreign conflicts to be imported into our city,” said Willy Demeyer, expressing shock and support for the local Jewish community, which he described as a “positive and important” presence in Liège.

Bart De Wever posted on social media: “We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community. Antisemitism is an attack on our values and our society, and it must be combated unequivocally.”

The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office, which handles terrorism and organized crime, is leading the investigation. Officials have not yet disclosed whether the explosive device was planted or thrown.

Rabbi Joshua Nejman, whose synagogue was targeted, told AFP that the blast “took out the windows and the door itself.” He added that the incident, while frightening, did not cause further damage to the building.

Local residents reported being shaken by the blast. One nearby resident said her windows rattled and initially suspected a gas explosion. Another, a 76-year-old named Eliane, urged calm, noting she had lived in the area for many years without problems.

Heightened security measures

Authorities emphasized that security around Jewish sites remains heightened following a spike in antisemitic incidents after the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin called the explosion “a despicable antisemitic act” and pledged continued vigilance.

Belgium’s Jewish population numbers around 42,000, concentrated mainly in Brussels and Antwerp. The Liège synagogue, built in 1899, also functions as a museum preserving the city’s Jewish history.

In recent months, Belgium has seen heightened security concerns, including the October arrest of three suspects accused of plotting a drone attack on the prime minister, described as a “jihadist-inspired terrorist attack.” Photo by Ralf Houven, Wikimedia commons.