Prime minister condemns antisemitism after Rotterdam synagogue explosion
Four suspects in the explosion that took place Thursday night into Friday at the synagogue on A.B.N. Davidsplein in Rotterdam’s Blijdorp district were arrested at another synagogue in the city, located in the Hillegersberg neighborhood. The second synagogue is about 6 kilometers from the Nederlands-Israëlitische Gemeente Rotterdam, where the blast happened. Prime Minister Rob Jetten said the incident was “deeply disturbing” and noted that it has again caused significant fear among members of the Jewish community.
Among the four suspects are two 19-year-olds, an 18-year-old, and a 17-year-old, all from Tilburg. Earlier, during the overnight period from Sunday night into Monday Monday morning, another explosion occurred at a synagogue in Liège, Belgium. Police are now investigating whether the two incidents are connected and have reached out to Belgian authorities as part of the investigation.
The police have not spoken about whether the suspects were planning on attacking the second synagogue. The incident comes a day after an incident in Detroit in the U.S. in which a man drove into a synagogue before being shot by security staff. Authorities found a large amount of explosives in the man’s car.
“It is especially terrible that this has happened, and it has once again led to a great deal of fear within the Jewish community,” said Prime Minister Rob Jetten about the incident in Rotterdam.
Despite the investigation still being underway, Jetten said the arrests make it “crystal clear” to him that antisemitism is involved. He added that he has already spoken with representatives of the Jewish community. “They are our Jewish fellow citizens, and they must be left alone.”
The prime minister said it must be made absolutely clear that antisemitism has no place in the Netherlands. Speaking at his weekly press conference on Friday, he added that there is “no room for intimidation, hatred, or violence against any religious minority.”
