Explosion outside Liège synagogue causes serious damage but no injuries; anti‑terrorism unit investigates

Brussels – During the night between Sunday, 8 March and Monday, 9 March, there was an explosion in front of the synagogue in Liège, a Belgian city in the French-speaking region of Wallonia, according to the local police, which added that there was “considerable” material damage but no one was injured. The time of the explosion, which occurred shortly before 4 a.m., also helped avoid a worse outcome. 

“The front window of the synagogue was completely destroyed,” explained a city police spokesperson, “and the windows of the buildings opposite were also broken.” As for the event’s dynamics, a resident of Rue Leon Fredericq (the street where the synagogue is located) said he was awakened by an explosion that occurred right in front of the place of worship. In the morning, the mayor of Liège, Willy Demeyer, confirmed that the explosion was criminal in origin. Further details will emerge from the investigation launched this morning by the anti-terrorism department of the Federal Judicial Police. In the meantime, the local police have closed off the street and established a security zone around the area.

Demeyer condemned “the violent act of anti-Semitism, contrary to Liège’s tradition of respect for others”. He was echoed by the national government, with Prime Minister Bart De Wever expressing “solidarity with the Jewish community in Liège and throughout Belgium,” adding that “anti-Semitism is an attack on our values and our society and must therefore be fought without ambiguity.” The national executive also announced that the Minister of the Interior, Bernard Quintin, will arrive in Liège this afternoon to take stock of the situation with the relevant authorities and “plan a strengthening of security measures in the city of Wallonia and other sensitive areas of the country.” 

In light of new military escalation in the Middle East, the Organe de Coordination pour l’Analyse de la Menace (Belgian counter-terrorism agency) set  a general threat level in Belgium of 3 out of 4, which indicates that an attack is considered “possible and credible.” On Wednesday (4 March), the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, Boris Dilliès, convened the Regional Security Council (CORES) for an extraordinary session to assess how a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could affect public safety and critical infrastructure, including airports, railway hubs, and European Union institutions.