Explosion at Israeli Center in Nijkerk draws condemnation from Mayor, officials
The mayor of Nijkerk and nearby residents expressed concern and solidarity after an explosive device detonated late Friday night at an Israeli center, an incident that follows earlier attacks on Jewish-related sites in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Mayor Tinet de Jonge-Ruitenbeek called the explosion unacceptable and visited the center shortly afterward to speak with staff. “I am impressed by their resilience,” she said, according to the RTL.
She added that her concern and sympathy extend to employees and nearby residents. “It is terrible that they have to experience such violence. Every form of aggression, hatred, or violence is unacceptable, and we condemn it. We call on everyone to be there for one another.”
Residents in the area were confronted with the blast around 11:30 p.m., when police officers nearby heard a loud bang and saw a flash of light at the site on Henri Nouwenstraat. The explosion occurred at a gate surrounding the building.
Police said a person dressed in black placed the explosive device. No one was injured, and the material damage was limited. No arrests have been made, and authorities are asking witnesses to come forward. The building is owned by Christenen voor Israël, which described the incident as an attack at its Israëlcentrum.
“As Christenen voor Israël, we are shocked that our Israëlcentrum has been the target of an attack. That it took place on the eve of Easter, the most important holiday for Christians, makes it especially poignant,” the organization said.
“This attack not only affects us but is also a signal toward the Jewish community in the Netherlands, which has long been confronted with threats and intimidation. That causes us enormous concern. Attacks are meant to sow fear. We will not yield to that; we will continue our work.”
The explosion comes amid a broader pattern of incidents. In March, explosions struck Jewish buildings, including a school in Amsterdam and a synagogue in Rotterdam. Earlier this spring, pro-Palestinian protests at events organized by Christenen voor Israël in Barneveld and Katwijk turned violent, with objects thrown and one person injured at each location.
Christenen voor Israël, founded in 1979 in the Netherlands, says it operates in more than 40 countries, coordinated from its headquarters in Nijkerk.
