A historic synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège was severely damaged in a suspected early-morning blast on Monday. The 1899 building, housing a museum dedicated to the city’s Jewish heritage, suffered major damage. Windows across the road were blown out by the force of the explosion. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
Mayor Brands Blast a “Violent Act of Antisemitism”
Liège Mayor Willy Demeyer was quick to condemn the attack. Speaking on local radio, he called it a “violent act of antisemitism” and stressed it was “unacceptable that we import conflicts from outside into our city.” The mayor has been in touch with Belgium’s Interior Minister as counter-terrorism police launch a full investigation and secure the site.
“From the information communicated to me, there is little doubt,” said Demeyer. “The investigation will formally establish the cause.”
Jewish Leaders Call Incident “Extremely Worrying”
Yves Oschinsky, president of Belgium’s Committee of Jewish Organizations, described the attack as “an extremely worrying, serious and concerning anti-Semitic act.”
Spiking Antisemitism Across Europe and UK
The Liège explosion comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitic attacks across Europe and the UK. In Britain, the Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 3,700 antisemitic incidents in 2025 — a 4% increase on the year before.
