Muslim group claims responsibility for Amsterdam Jewish school explosion, mayor calls it attack on Jews
Key Takeaways
- Explosion damaged the exterior wall of a Jewish school; no injuries reported.
- Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema called it a deliberate attack against the Jewish community.
- A Muslim group claimed responsibility for the blast.
Explosion At Jewish School
The blast struck an exterior wall of the Cheider Orthodox Jewish school located on Zeelandstraat in Amsterdam-Buitenveldert, a high-end residential neighborhood on the south side of the Dutch capital.
Emergency responders including police and firefighters arrived quickly at the scene, containing the explosion to the building and preventing further damage to the surrounding area.
No injuries were reported in the attack, which occurred during the night from Friday to Saturday and caused only limited structural damage to the school building.
Extremist Group Claims Responsibility
A newly formed extremist Muslim group has claimed responsibility for the Amsterdam attack, identifying itself as “The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right” and releasing a video showing the detonation of an incendiary device outside the Jewish school.
The group has also claimed responsibility for at least three other antisemitic attacks across Europe this week, including similar explosions outside synagogues in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Liege, Belgium.
Dutch authorities confirmed that this particular extremist organization was not previously known to security services before this week's attacks.
The group's modus operandi appears consistent across the incidents, with all attacks occurring at night against the exterior walls of Jewish institutions using explosive devices.
Mayor Condemns Attack
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema strongly condemned the explosion as “a cowardly act of aggression against the Jewish community” and expressed alarm at what she described as an unacceptable rise in antisemitism facing Jewish residents.
“Jewish School Hit by Explosion in Amsterdam, No Injuries Reported An explosion damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early Saturday in what Mayor Femke Halsema called a “deliberate attack against the Jewish community”
“Jewish people in Amsterdam are increasingly confronted with antisemitism. This is unacceptable,” Halsema stated, emphasizing that “Amsterdam must be a place where Jews can live safely.”
The mayor's condemnation was echoed by the Amsterdam ‘triangle’ consisting of the mayor, police, and prosecutors, who all agreed to treat the incident as a targeted attack against the Jewish community with the utmost seriousness.
The attack has prompted renewed calls for vigilance and strengthened security measures at Jewish sites across the Netherlands, with security already having been heightened following previous incidents.
Security Context
The Amsterdam attack occurred amid heightened security concerns for Jewish communities globally, with concerns about possible attacks rising following recent U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and subsequent responses from Tehran.
The incident marks at least the ninth Diaspora synagogue targeted so far this month, according to reports, and follows a pattern of antisemitic violence across Europe.
Security measures at synagogues and Jewish institutions in Amsterdam had already been strengthened after an arson attack at a synagogue in central Rotterdam the previous day, and authorities in neighboring Belgium had reported a similar explosion at a synagogue in Liege earlier in the week.
Dutch law enforcement officials have stated they are coordinating investigations with local security agencies to identify those responsible and prevent further incidents.
Investigation Underway
Dutch authorities are actively investigating the explosion, with police confirming they have surveillance footage showing a suspect placing and igniting the explosive device at the Jewish school.
“Explosion damages Jewish school in Amsterdam as mayor condemns 'cowardly antisemitic attack' A Jewish school in Amsterdam has suffered damage following an explosion in an upmarket neighbourhood of the city on Saturday, Dutch officials say”
According to Mayor Halsema, investigators are examining camera footage that clearly shows the suspect's actions, and an unverified video circulating on social media also appears to document the explosion, followed by a person leaving on a scooter.
The Amsterdam municipality has emphasized that all necessary measures are being taken to protect educational and religious institutions, and authorities continue to monitor security developments closely.
Halsema also encouraged residents to remain alert but cautioned against spreading unverified reports, stressing that the investigation is ongoing and details remain limited as law enforcement works to identify and apprehend those responsible.
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