Explosion Damages Jewish School in Amsterdam in Suspected Targeted Attack

Netherlands:An explosion damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday, prompting authorities to investigate what officials have described as a targeted attack on the Jewish community.

According to reports, the blast caused limited structural damage to the school building. Femke Halsema, the mayor of the Dutch capital, said the incident appeared to have been directed specifically at the Jewish community, according to information cited by local news agency ANP.

Police have launched an investigation and are examining surveillance footage that reportedly shows an individual detonating the explosive device, media reports said.

Earlier Synagogue Attack in Rotterdam

The incident occurred just a day after authorities in the Netherlands arrested four suspects in connection with an arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam.

Police said the fire was triggered by an explosion at around 3:40 a.m. local time, but no injuries were reported. Following the attack, security was immediately strengthened at other synagogues across the city.

Authorities detained the four suspects—aged between 17 and 19—after stopping a vehicle that was behaving suspiciously near another synagogue. Police said the driver matched the description of one of the individuals involved in the earlier attack.

Investigators have not yet determined whether the suspects were planning additional attacks on other synagogues, and officials have appealed to the public for information.

Rising Security Concerns

The incidents come amid heightened concerns over antisemitic violence, with Jewish schools, synagogues, and other community institutions worldwide increasing security measures.

The fears have intensified following recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which began roughly two weeks ago and have raised concerns about possible retaliatory or ideologically motivated attacks.

Earlier this week, a synagogue in Belgium, located about 200 kilometres southeast of Amsterdam, was also damaged in an explosion that authorities described as an antisemitic attack. While the blast caused structural damage, no injuries were reported.

Incident in the United States

In a separate incident in the United States, a Lebanon-born U.S. citizen drove a truck into a synagogue and its preschool in Michigan. Authorities said the individual was shot dead by police during the incident.

Security agencies across several countries are now closely monitoring threats against Jewish institutions, as authorities seek to prevent further acts of violence targeting religious communities.