Shattered windows, possible "terrorist attack": what we know about the explosion outside a synagogue in Liège

An explosion occurred in front of a synagogue in Liège, on Rue Léon Frédéricq, very early Monday morning. The federal prosecutor's office, in charge of the investigation, mentioned "possible indications of a terrorist act." "An abject anti-Semitic act." An explosion that occurred very early Monday morning, March 9, in front of a synagogue in Liège, Belgium, causing significant material damage. "An explosive device that was placed or thrown." The explosion occurred very early Monday morning, around 4:00 a.m., in front of the synagogue located on Rue Léon Frédéricq in Liège. Windows in several buildings in front of the synagogue were blown out.

"There was an explosive device that was placed or thrown, I don't know, in front of one of the main doors of the synagogue, which shattered the windows and the wooden door," said Rabbi Joshua Nejman of Liège.

The synagogue, a listed building inaugurated in 1899, is also a museum that displays various religious objects and the history of the Jewish community in Liège, according to its website.

While the explosion caused significant material damage, it There were no injuries, according to Liège police, who quickly established a security perimeter. The street remains closed for the time being "while the investigation is carried out" and a "perimeter has been established in the immediate vicinity," local police told the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir. • Towards the possibility of a "terrorist act" After the explosion, "the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (SEDEE) went to the scene to carry out the necessary investigations," the Belgian daily reported. An investigation has subsequently been opened to determine the cause. The investigation into the explosion was entrusted to the federal prosecutor's office in charge of the case. The prosecutor's office mentioned "possible indications of a terrorist act," without being able to confirm its motives at this stage. According to the Belgian government, the criminal origin of the explosion and the targeting of the Jewish community are beyond doubt. "Security measures around similar sites will continue to be reinforced," said Interior Minister Bernard Quintin. • An "anti-Semitic attack" The mayor of Liège, Willy Demeyer, was quick to react to this possible attack, denouncing "an anti-Semitic act." Interviewed by the public radio station RTBF, he made a reference to the war in the Middle East, triggered on February 28 by American and Israeli strikes on Iran. For his part, Prime Minister Bart De Wever expressed his solidarity with the Jewish community of Liège and Belgium. Anti-Semitism is an "attack against our values and our society" and "must be fought unequivocally," he stated. Jewish organizations in Belgium also denounced an "anti-Semitic attack." Following this, the Minister of the Interior also condemned "an abject anti-Semitic act that directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium." Finally, the European Union "strongly condemned" this "anti-Semitic attack," through European Commissioner Magnus Brunner.