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Belgium Deploys Soldiers to Guard Jewish Sites After Liège Synagogue Blast

The deployment uses Article 111 to keep operational control with the federal police.

Overview

  • Soldiers are reinforcing security at synagogues, Jewish schools and community centers nationwide, with major hubs such as Brussels and Antwerp prioritized.
  • Interior Minister Bernard Quintin and Defense Minister Theo Francken announced immediate support for policing operations, enabling a rapid, visible presence at vulnerable sites.
  • Investigations continue into the March 9 explosion outside the Liège synagogue and related incidents reported in the Netherlands and Norway, with no injuries confirmed.
  • An obscure group calling itself Harakat Ashab Al Yamin al-Islamia claimed responsibility for attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands, and Israel’s Foreign Ministry alleged ties to an Iranian proxy, assertions that remain under review.
  • Dutch authorities arrested four teenagers in Rotterdam as probes proceed, while Belgian Jewish organizations and local leaders backed the move, which follows prior troop deployments from 2015 to 2021.