Mayor condemns blast as antisemitic act; police launch investigation into early-morning incident
A synagogue in the Belgian city of Liege was damaged in an early-morning explosion on Monday, prompting a police investigation and condemnation from local authorities who described the incident as an antisemitic act.
According to local police, the explosion occurred at around 4 a.m. local time outside the synagogue building. The blast damaged windows and nearby structures but caused no injuries, authorities said.
A police spokesperson in Liege confirmed that while there were no casualties, the explosion caused material damage to the synagogue and surrounding buildings.
Authorities quickly set up a security perimeter around the site following the incident as investigators began examining the area to determine the cause of the blast. Federal police units were also dispatched to assist local authorities at the scene.
Belgian media reported that the explosion occurred in front of the synagogue building, shattering several windows in nearby properties and raising concerns within the local community.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether the explosion was caused by an explosive device or another source. Investigators are currently collecting evidence and reviewing security footage from the surrounding area.
Liege Mayor Willy Demeyer strongly condemned the attack and described it as an antisemitic act that cannot be tolerated in the city.
“We cannot allow foreign conflicts to be imported into our city,” Demeyer said in a statement, calling for calm while the investigation continues.
The mayor also stressed the importance of protecting places of worship and ensuring that all communities feel safe in the city.
Security around Jewish institutions in parts of Europe has been tightened in recent months amid rising concerns about antisemitic incidents linked to geopolitical tensions and conflicts in the Middle East.
Authorities in Belgium have previously stepped up monitoring and security measures at religious sites following threats and attacks targeting Jewish communities in several European countries.
The incident in Liege comes just days after similar concerns were raised in Canada following attacks on synagogues in Toronto.
On March 7, gunshots were fired at synagogue buildings in the Canadian city, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for stronger protection for the Jewish community.
York Regional Police said shots were fired shortly after midnight at the doors of the Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto synagogue located in Thornhill.
Later the same night, Toronto Police also received reports of gunfire at another synagogue, Shaarei Shomayim, located near Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue. Officers who responded to the scene found bullet holes in the front door of the building.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the incidents, calling them attacks on the fundamental rights of Jewish citizens.
“These criminal antisemitic attacks are an assault on the rights of Jewish Canadians to live and pray in safety,” Carney said in a statement posted on social media platform X.
He added that such acts were also “fundamental violations of the Canadian way of life”.
Carney said the federal government would use every available measure to combat antisemitic violence and strengthen protection for places of worship across the country.
He noted that new legislation had been introduced to strengthen the Criminal Code and enhance law enforcement tools to address hate crimes.
Federal agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), are expected to support local authorities in identifying and prosecuting those responsible for the attacks.
Investigations into both the explosion in Liege and the shootings in Toronto remain ongoing.
