Belgium is ramping up security measures for its Jewish community following recent attacks on synagogues, which have caused widespread concern in Europe. Authorities believe a newly emerging terrorist group with potential links to Iran is responsible for these assaults on Jewish targets across the continent.
The group, named Harakat Ahab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah—translated as “Right-wing Brotherhood Islamic Movement”—has reportedly claimed several attacks, including a bombing at a synagogue in Liege on March 9. They have also taken responsibility for an arson incident in Rotterdam and a bombing at a Jewish school in Amsterdam.
Moreover, there’s another attack on a Jewish facility in Greece that’s been tied to this group, although details remain scarce.
On March 15, Israel’s Foreign Ministry highlighted that a “jihadist group linked to Iranian proxies” was behind the attacks, specifically naming the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and emphasizing its role in promoting and facilitating global terrorism.
In the wake of these incidents, Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned the explosion in Liege, labeling it a “despicable act of anti-Semitism” that specifically targeted the Jewish community. Prime Minister Bart de Weber expressed solidarity with the Jewish population in Liege and across Belgium, stating that anti-Semitism contradicts the fundamental values of society and must be opposed resolutely.
Joe Truzman, a senior researcher at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, suggested that external pressures might have influenced the group to escalate these attacks. “It seems likely there’s an organization guiding this,” he remarked, which adds a layer of complexity to the situation.
As a direct response to the attack in Liege, Belgian officials announced an increase in protective security measures. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Franken stated that military personnel would be deployed to the streets to enhance safety for the Jewish community. He affirmed that anti-Semitism and hatred toward Jews would not be tolerated.
This action received praise from U.S. officials as well. Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaprun, the State Department’s special envoy for monitoring and combating anti-Semitism, expressed gratitude to Belgian authorities for their swift response. He noted that practical measures were preferable to mere rhetoric and expressed eagerness to continue working with Belgian officials on this critical issue.
Overall, Belgium has been enhancing security around Jewish institutions in light of previous attacks, including a tragic incident in 2014 when a mass shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussels resulted in four fatalities, marking one of the most severe anti-Semitic attacks in the nation’s history.
Despite the heightened security, Jewish organizations are voicing alarm over what they see as a troubling escalation in anti-Semitic activities. The World Jewish Congress remarked that the attack in Liege reflects a broader pattern of rising anti-Semitism and violent extremism across Europe, calling it deeply concerning.
