An explosion overnight caused damage to a Jewish school in Amsterdam, authorities in the Netherlands reported on Saturday. Officials said the blast resulted in limited structural damage to the building but no injuries were reported.
Local police and prosecutors have launched an investigation, reviewing security camera footage that reportedly captured a suspect placing and detonating an explosive device near the school during the early hours of the morning.
Mayor: Attack Targeted Jewish Community
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a deliberate act against the city’s Jewish community.
“This is a cowardly act of aggression,” Halsema said, according to the Dutch news agency ANP. “A school must be a place where children can receive lessons safely. Amsterdam must be a place where Jews can live safely.”
Authorities said the blast caused only limited damage to the school building.
Police Reviewing Security Footage
According to investigators, a suspect was captured on security cameras in the area around the time the explosive device was placed.
Police said they are currently analyzing the footage and continuing their search for the individual responsible for the attack.
Officials from the police, judiciary and the mayor’s office said they are treating the explosion as a targeted attack against the Jewish community and are handling the case with the highest level of seriousness.
Islamist Group Claims Responsibility
An Islamist group calling itself Ashab al-Yamin later posted footage of the explosion on social media and claimed responsibility for the incident.
The organization also said it was responsible for another explosion earlier this week near a synagogue in Liège, Belgium.
Very little is known about the group, which reportedly emerged shortly after the outbreak of the war involving Iran two weeks ago. According to analysts, videos distributed by the group feature the same soundtrack commonly used in propaganda produced by Hezbollah, and are circulated through channels linked to the so-called “axis of resistance.”
Growing Concern Over Attacks on Jewish Institutions
The incident in Amsterdam is the latest in a series of attacks and attempted attacks targeting Jewish institutions around the world since the outbreak of the conflict involving Iran.
Authorities in several European countries have increased security around synagogues, schools and Jewish community centers amid heightened concerns over possible additional incidents.
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