Liege Synagogue Suffers Damage Due to Explosion Incident
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Brussels, March 9 (NationPress) An explosion occurred in front of a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liege early Monday morning, resulting in damage to nearby buildings, as reported by local police. The blast took place around 4 am (local time), shattering windows and causing material destruction, according to a spokesperson from the police department, as cited by Euro News.
Authorities confirmed that while there were no injuries, significant property damage was noted. A thorough investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the explosion.
A security cordon has been established around the incident site, with federal police dispatched to the area, as reported by Euro News referencing Belgian public broadcaster RTBF.
Willy Demeyer, the Mayor of Liege, condemned the act, labeling it as an “antisemitic act”. He emphasized that “we cannot permit foreign conflicts to infiltrate our city.”
In a related incident, gunfire was reported at synagogues in Toronto, Canada, on March 7, which has raised alarms within the Jewish community regarding their safety. According to 'The Globe and Mail', shots were fired shortly after midnight at the Beth Avraham Yosef synagogue in Thornhill.
Subsequently, Toronto Police discovered bullet damage to the front door of the Shaarei Shomayim synagogue located at Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned these actions, calling the shooting an “attack on the rights of Jewish Canadians to live and pray without fear.” He stated, “Last night, we witnessed assaults on two synagogues in Toronto, alongside a previous attack this week on Temple Emanu-El in North York. These criminal antisemitic acts are direct attacks on the rights of Jewish Canadians. They fundamentally violate the Canadian way of life.”
Carney assured that the federal government will utilize all available resources to combat antisemitic violence and ensure the protection of places of worship. New legislation has been introduced to enhance the Criminal Code and safeguard communities against hate crimes. Federal law enforcement, including the RCMP, will mobilize every effort to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.