Unknown assailants set fire to synagogue in the Netherlands
A nighttime arson attack in Rotterdam, accompanied by an explosion at the entrance to the building, has stirred fear in the Jewish community amid a rise in attacks on religious sites.
Unknown assailants set fire to the entrance of a synagogue in Rotterdam on March 13, 2026, the Dutch broadcaster NOS reports. The incident took place at around 3:45 a.m. on Davidsplein in the Blijdorp district.
According to police, the attackers started a fire at the doors of the building, after which an explosion occurred. Videos of the incident were circulated on social media and have already been added to the case file by investigators. Although the flames went out on their own and no one was injured, clear signs of damage remained on the doors of the Jewish house of worship.
Mayor Schouten said the incident had caused “a strong sense of fear among our Jewish fellow citizens.” Authorities pledged to continue closely monitoring security around the city’s religious sites.
In recent days, a series of attacks on synagogues has been recorded in different countries. Earlier this week, an explosion occurred near a synagogue in Liège, Belgium, which the interior minister described as “clearly an antisemitic attack.” In Oslo, Norway, police detained two people carrying weapons and explosives near a synagogue and are also investigating a blast at the entrance to the U.S. Embassy.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that an unknown attacker carried out a terrorist act at the largest synagogue in the United States, in Michigan.
