Arson attacks on synagogues in Belgium and the Netherlands reflect growing antisemitic threat

On March 13, 2026, a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands, suffered an arson attack followed by an explosion late at night. The attack, which caused no injuries or significant material damage, was recorded and shared on social media by a group calling itself 'Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya', believed to be an Iraqi-Shia front group linked to Iran. Earlier the same week, the group also claimed responsibility for a bombing attack on a synagogue in Liège, Belgium, provoking alarm among Jewish communities and government officials. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned the Liège attack as both antisemitic and terroristic, and discussions are underway about deploying military forces to protect Jewish institutions. Jewish community leaders express deep concern over the escalating antisemitism and the apparent confidence of the attackers, who self-publish their acts. The European Jewish Congress warns of a coordinated network targeting Jewish communities across Europe. These incidents illustrate the growing threat of coordinated Islamist extremist attacks on Jewish targets within Europe.