An explosion damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam on Saturday, with the city’s mayor describing the incident as a “deliberate attack against the Jewish community”.
The explosion took place in an upscale residential neighborhood on the south side of the city, Mayor Femke Halsema said.
“This is a cowardly act of aggression against the Jewish community. Jewish people in Amsterdam are increasingly confronted with antisemitism. This is unacceptable,” Halsema was quoted as saying by reuters.
No injuries have been reported thus far, and police and firefighters are on the spot.
Saturday’s incident took place after an overnight attack at a synagogue in the city of Rotterdam on Friday prompted Dutch authorities to ramp up security at Jewish institutions.
No one was injured in the Rotterdam synagogue, which was engulfed by a fire following a blast around 3:40 am local time.
Four men were subsequently held after police stopped a car that was driving suspiciously near another synagogue, with the description of the driver matching one of the perpetrators of the earlier attack in Rotterdam.
‘Antisemitism growing everyday’
Following Saturday’s attack on the Jewish school, Opposition leader and Dutch MP Geert Wilders criticized the city administration.
“Another attack on a Jewish target; after the fire at the Rotterdam synagogue now an explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam,” wrote Wilders after the blast was reported.
“Antisemitism is growing every day. Unacceptable. Action is needed. Prime Minister Jetten, mayor Halsema, and the police would rather join iftars than fight anti-Jewish hatred,” he added.
However, it wasn’t immediately clear who was behind the blast.
Concerns about possible attacks against Jewish communities around the world have risen following US and Israeli attacks on Iran and a subsequent response from Tehran.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)
