Explosion Damages Historic Synagogue in Belgium

An explosion damaged a synagogue in the eastern Belgian city of Liège at around 4 a.m. Monday, shattering the synagogue’s windows and blowing out glass in buildings across the street, authorities said, prompting a federal investigation into the cause of the blast. No injuries were reported.

The synagogue, built in 1899, is a historic landmark that also houses a museum about Liège’s Jewish community, a city in eastern Belgium.

Police quickly established a security perimeter around the area as investigators began examining the scene. Belgian federal prosecutors responsible for organized crime and terrorism are involved in the probe, and the Federal Judicial Police were dispatched to assist local authorities.

Officials have not yet announced what caused the explosion. Bomb disposal units were reportedly sent to inspect the area as part of the investigation, while forensic teams worked to determine whether the blast was accidental or the result of a deliberate act.

Liège Mayor Willy Demeyer strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a targeted antisemitic attack. “This is all intentional and targeted. We condemn this antisemitic act as strongly as possible,” Demeyer said in remarks reported by Belgian media.

The mayor also warned against allowing international tensions to spill into local communities. “There can be no question of importing external conflicts into our city,” he said, referring to the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding the ongoing U.S.–Israeli war with Iran.

The Liège synagogue is one of several historic Jewish sites in Belgium and reflects a long-standing Jewish presence in the region. Across Europe, Jewish institutions such as synagogues, schools and community centers have increasingly operated under heightened security in recent years due to rising antisemitism and concerns about attacks targeting Jewish communities.

For now, investigators are focused on determining exactly what caused the early morning blast. The findings will determine whether the explosion is treated as a criminal act, an antisemitic attack or another type of incident.