Belgian Intelligence Links Iran to Attacks on Jewish Targets

Belgium's top security official has stated that two attacks targeting Jewish sites in March were orchestrated by Iran. Gert Vercaeren, head of Belgium's Coordination Unit for Threat Assessment, revealed that the perpetrators acted on direct orders from Tehran. These incidents are part of a broader, coordinated campaign rather than isolated events, according to Vercaeren.

The first incident occurred on March 9th in Liege, where an explosive device was detonated near a synagogue. The case was quickly handed over to federal prosecutors for a terrorism investigation. The following week, a car was set on fire in the Jewish quarter of Antwerp. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in either attack.

Vercaeren indicated that these attacks represent the peak of Iran-linked activities within Belgium. Belgian intelligence also identified connections to several planned attacks in the Netherlands, including an thwarted attempt to bomb a synagogue in the city of Almere. The Brussels Times first reported these findings.