Arabic version: عمدة أمستردام تصف انفجار المدرسة بأنه هجوم متعمد

An explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam was a “deliberate attack against the Jewish community,” the city’s mayor, Femke Halsema, has said. The overnight blast caused limited damage to the outer wall of the school in the Buitenveldert district, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Halsema condemned the act as a “cowardly act of aggression” and emphasized the need for Amsterdam to be a safe place for its Jewish residents.

According to BBC News, Prime Minister Rob Jetten also weighed in, stating that there must be “no place for antisemitism” in the Netherlands. This incident follows heightened security measures at Jewish institutions after a suspected arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam on Friday.

Emergency responders, including firefighters and police, were quickly dispatched to the scene of the explosion. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage reportedly showing a person placing explosives at the school. Although an investigation is underway, police have not yet disclosed any potential motives for the attack.

The Israeli foreign ministry reacted strongly, describing an “antisemitism epidemic” in the Netherlands. In their statement, they referenced the recent attacks in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, as well as “the pogrom against Israelis in Amsterdam in November 2024”. They urged the Dutch government to take more decisive action against antisemitism, raising concerns about the safety of Jewish communities both locally and globally.