An explosion caused minor damage to a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday, with the city's mayor labeling it as "a deliberate attack against the Jewish community."
The incident, which occurred in an upscale residential area on the south side of Amsterdam, resulted in damage to a rainpipe and scorching of an outer wall, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Mayor Femke Halsema emphasized the seriousness of the situation, announcing increased security measures at Jewish institutions. She condemned the incident as "a cowardly act of aggression against the Jewish community" and expressed concern over the rising antisemitism faced by Jewish people in Amsterdam, deeming it unacceptable.
The targeted school is the sole orthodox Jewish institution in the Netherlands, enclosed by a pointed metal outer wall due to previous threats. Security had already been heightened at synagogues and Jewish establishments in Amsterdam following an arson attack at a synagogue in Rotterdam the night before.
In a separate incident in Belgium, an explosion led to a fire at a synagogue in Liege on Monday.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten denounced the attack in Amsterdam as "horrible," acknowledging the fear and anger it instilled in the Jewish community. He reassured that the safety of Jewish institutions was a top priority.
Global concerns regarding potential attacks on Jewish communities have escalated following recent US and Israeli actions against Iran and subsequent reactions from Tehran.
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