Jewish Community Fearful After Latest Attack | BBC News
An arson attack targeting a Jewish community center in London has heightened fears among British Jews, coming amid a surge of antisemitic incidents across Europe. The incident, details of which have not been fully released, follows recent attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
In Belgium, the military has been deployed to provide security for Jewish sites following an explosion that damaged a synagogue in Liège last week, according to reports. Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder authorized the deployment in response to the escalating threat, a move that builds on previous instances of military support for police in securing Jewish community locations. The deployment comes after calls from several Belgian politicians for increased protection of Jewish institutions.
The Liège synagogue attack, and a separate incident involving a Jewish school in Amsterdam and a synagogue in Rotterdam, have been attributed to a newly formed Islamist organization, according to the Israeli foreign ministry. Dutch authorities are investigating potential Iranian involvement in the attacks.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a UK organization dedicated to protecting the Jewish community, has drawn parallels between the recent London attack and the events unfolding in Belgium and the Netherlands.
These incidents occur less than a year after two worshippers were killed during an attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur. In February, three men were sentenced after being convicted in connection with a plot described by police as potentially the “UK’s most deadly terror attack,” inspired by ISIS. Last week, two Iranian men were charged with allegedly surveilling Jewish synagogues and buildings in London during the previous year.
Beyond these high-profile attacks, the British Jewish community is also grappling with increasing reports of antisemitism in schools, universities, and within the National Health Service (NHS). The government has launched several reviews to investigate these claims.
The Belgian military deployment, as reported by The Jerusalem Post, is intended to bolster security measures already in place. The move reflects a growing concern among European governments regarding the safety of Jewish communities amid rising antisemitic threats.