Explosion damages Jewish school in Amsterdam; mayor calls it deliberate attack

Amsterdam, Netherlands. An explosion damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday, an incident Mayor Femke Halsema described as a deliberate attack against the Jewish community. The blast caused limited damage, according to a city press release.

Explosion and response

The explosion occurred at the school in an upscale residential neighbourhood on the south side of Amsterdam. Halsema said police and firefighters arrived at the scene quickly.

Heightened security after other incidents

Security at synagogues and Jewish institutions in the Dutch capital had already been heightened after an overnight arson attack at a synagogue in the centre of Rotterdam on Friday. In neighbouring Belgium, an explosion caused a fire at a synagogue in Liege on Monday.

Mayor cites antisemitism concerns

Halsema called the incident “a cowardly act of aggression against the Jewish community” and said Jewish people in Amsterdam are increasingly confronted with antisemitism.

Wider concerns

Concerns about possible attacks against Jewish communities around the world have risen following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and a subsequent response from Tehran.

How should authorities and local communities respond to rising concerns about attacks on Jewish institutions?