Explosion Hits Liège Synagogue in Antisemitic Attack

An explosion rocked the area outside a historic synagogue in the eastern Belgian city of Liège early Monday morning, prompting authorities to condemn the incident as a targeted antisemitic act amid heightened security concerns across Europe.

The blast occurred shortly before 4 a.m. local time, according to police statements. No injuries were reported, but the force shattered windows in buildings across the street from the synagogue. Officers quickly established a security perimeter, blocking off the area to allow investigators to examine the scene. Federal prosecutors, who handle cases involving organized crime and terrorism, have opened an inquiry into the cause and perpetrators.

Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin described the explosion as a "despicable antisemitic act that directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium" in a statement posted on social media. He emphasized that security measures around Jewish sites and similar locations would be reinforced, though he did not connect the incident to ongoing international tensions.

Liège Mayor Willy Demeyer echoed the condemnation, calling it an "extremely violent act of antiSemitism" that contradicted the city's values...