BRUSSELS — Belgian authorities have launched a federal investigation into an explosive device detonated outside a synagogue in Liege during the early hours of Monday, which Interior Minister Bernard Quintin explicitly condemned as a “despicable antisemitic act.
The incident occurred in eastern Belgium’s city of Liege, where local police confirmed the blast resulted in structural damage to a building adjacent to the synagogue, shattering windows but causing no injuries. Security personnel immediately cordoned off the affected area for forensic examination.
In an official statement via social media platform X, Minister Quintin asserted that the attack “directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium” and pledged enhanced security measures around Jewish institutions nationwide. Notably, Belgian officials made no connection between the explosion and the ongoing U.S.-Israel military operations against Iran.
The incident coincides with heightened security alerts across multiple European nations including France and Germany, which have announced reinforced protective measures for sensitive locations. While these countries acknowledge increased vigilance in response to Middle Eastern hostilities, they maintain no direct military involvement in the conflict. Belgium’s Transport Ministry has separately called for intensified security protocols around the national railway infrastructure.