In the early hours of Saturday, two individuals on a motor scooter targeted a yeshiva in Amsterdam, in what the city’s mayor has condemned as “a deliberate attack against the Jewish community.” This incident is part of a troubling surge of antisemitic violence sweeping across the Netherlands.
The explosion impacted the outer wall of Cheider, the nation’s sole Orthodox Jewish school. Fortunately, the school was not in session at the time of the attack.
Located in Buitenveldert, Amsterdam’s contemporary Jewish district, Cheider is surrounded by a vibrant community of synagogues, schools, and kosher eateries.
According to reports from DW, the perpetrators approached the school on a single scooter. One of them placed an explosive device against the school’s wall before quickly returning to the scooter. They fled the scene immediately after, detonating the device as they sped away.
Details about the nature of the explosive remain undisclosed by officials.
The police have released images of the suspects and are actively pursuing a manhunt, as stated in an official announcement.
No injuries were reported as a result of the attack.
“This is a cowardly act of aggression towards the Jewish community. I understand the fear and anger of Jewish Amsterdammers. They are increasingly confronted with antisemitism, and that is unacceptable,” Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said in a statement.
Jewish schools in Amsterdam, which are already under permanent security, have had their security measures beefed up in response to this and other recent attacks, officials said.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten condemned the “terrible” bombing and vowed to engage with the Jewish community.
“Terrible. In the Netherlands, there must be no place for antisemitism. I understand the anger and fear and will quickly engage in talks with the Jewish community,” he said in a statement.
It’s the second antisemitic attack the Netherlands has faced in as many days.
A synagogue was bombed in Rotterdam Friday and was set ablaze. The fire eventually burned out on its own, and no injuries were reported in the attack, officials said.
Four teenage boys aged 17, 18, and 19 were arrested after police pulled over a car driving erratically, local media reported.
A Belgian synagogue in Liege was bombed Monday in what the country’s Interior Minister Bernard Quintin called a “despicable antisemitic act.”
A Michigan Jewish preschool was targeted after a terrorist with ties to Hezbollah rammed his car into Temple Israel, which housed the school,Thursday.
The would-be shooter fatally shot himself after being confronted by security.
With Post Wires.
