Explosion outside synagogue in Belgian city of Liège. Authorities investigate terrorist angle

A powerful explosion occurred overnight from Sunday to Monday outside a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège. The incident happened when the building was empty, resulting in no casualties or injuries. However, the explosion caused significant material damage, including damage to the facade and numerous shattered windows of the temple. Emergency services and police immediately secured the area, and forensic technicians arrived on the scene to secure traces of explosive materials. Information about the explosion, the lack of casualties, and damage to the building was confirmed by the press agencies ANSA, Adnkronos, and media outlets Adevarul and ProTV.

The mayor of Liège, Willy Demeyer, issued an official statement in which he condemned this event in the strongest terms. The city's leader had no doubts about the nature of the attack, calling it a direct strike against the Jewish community and the foundations of Belgian democracy. „To akt skrajnie gwałtownego antysemityzmu, który jest niezwykle niepokojący i poważny” (This is an act of extremely violent antisemitism, which is extremely concerning and serious) — Willy Demeyer. The description of the event as a "brutal act of antisemitism" comes from Mayor Willy Demeyer's statement, as reported by RMF24 and Deutsche Welle. The mayor declared full solidarity with the Jewish community and announced increased security measures around religious buildings in the city.

The attack on the synagogue in Liège fits into an observed rise in antisemitic incidents across Europe, which intensified after the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East in October 2023. Belgian security services have maintained a heightened level of alert for some time due to the terrorist threat. The federal prosecutor's office, which has taken over supervision of the investigation, is currently checking whether the perpetrator acted alone or was part of a larger radical group. Information that the investigation is examining the possibility of classifying the act as a terrorist attack was provided by the ANSA agency and the Adevarul news service. Investigators are analyzing city surveillance footage and questioning witnesses who may have seen suspicious persons near the synagogue just before the explosion.

| Incident Feature | Details | | :--- | :--- | | Location | Synagogue in Liège, Belgium | | Time | Overnight from Sunday to Monday | | Casualties | None (0 injured) | | Damage | Shattered windows, facade damage | | Qualification | Suspicion of terrorism / antisemitism |

The local Jewish community expressed deep concern but also thanked the services for their quick intervention. Representatives of the Belgian government and politicians from various factions called for national unity in the face of growing xenophobia. The explosion occurred at night, which minimized the risk of fatalities; however, the scale of destruction indicates the use of a significant amount of explosive material. Mayor Demeyer's words about determination to protect citizens come from his statement cited by Deutsche Welle. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are appealing for calm and reporting any suspicious behavior to the police.