Explosion rocks Jewish school in Amsterdam in 'targeted attack,' mayor says limited damage

An explosion occurred early Saturday at a Jewish school in Amsterdam, which the city’s mayor, Femke Halsema, described as a targeted attack against the Jewish community. Authorities confirmed that the blast caused limited physical damage, and no casualties have been reported. Police are currently investigating the incident and reviewing camera footage that may show the perpetrator.

The attack comes amid a series of antisemitic incidents in the Netherlands and Europe. On Friday, four men were arrested in Rotterdam following an arson attack on a synagogue in the city centre. Surveillance had been increased at other synagogues across Rotterdam after the arrests, with authorities seeking information from witnesses about the suspects’ possible plans.

Security concerns for Jewish institutions have heightened globally, partly due to recent US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centres in Europe and elsewhere have reportedly strengthened security measures in anticipation of potential revenge attacks. Similar antisemitic attacks were reported recently in Belgium, where an explosion at a synagogue caused damage but no injuries.

The four suspects arrested in Rotterdam, aged between 17 and 19, were apprehended after police stopped a car behaving suspiciously near another synagogue. Officials noted that the vehicle matched the description of one connected to the earlier arson attack, but it remains unclear whether they planned further attacks.

Internationally, concerns about attacks on Jewish sites continue to rise. In the United States, a Lebanon-born citizen crashed his truck into a synagogue and preschool in Michigan before being shot dead, reflecting a pattern of global threats against Jewish communities. Authorities in Amsterdam have urged vigilance and called for public cooperation to ensure the safety of vulnerable institutions.