Mar 9 • 08:46 UTC 🇬🇧 UK Sky News

Synagogue in Belgium damaged in explosion

A synagogue in Liège, Belgium, was damaged in an explosion deemed an antisemitic attack, with officials condemning the violence aimed at the Jewish community.

A synagogue in the city of Liege, Belgium, was severely damaged by an explosion early in the morning on March 9, 2026. The interior minister of Belgium, Bernard Quintin, called the incident a "despicable antisemitic act" that specifically targeted the Jewish community. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the explosion did blow out windows and damage the synagogue's wooden front door, indicating significant structural impact.

Local officials, including Liege's mayor Willy Demeyer, described the explosion as an "extremely violent act of antisemitism." Demeyer expressed deep concern over the importation of foreign conflicts to the local context, specifically referencing tensions stemming from recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The mayor's comments suggest a broader social and political implication where international conflicts are influencing local acts of violence, raising alarms about community safety and solidarity.

As police investigate the explosion, they have noted that it involved an intentional device, confirming that this was not an accidental incident. The local Jewish community and broader public are left to grapple with the implications of such violence, which points not only to antisemitism but also to the potential escalation of tensions within multicultural societies. Local law enforcement and political leaders are now under pressure to address and mitigate the risk of further violence against minority communities in Belgium.

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