Belgian Soldiers Arrest Man Threatening Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Antwerp With Emergency Hammer

Belgian soldiers stationed to protect a Jewish neighborhood in Antwerp prevented an attack on ultra-Orthodox Jews late Friday night by detaining a 28-year-old man who threatened passersby with an emergency hammer. The suspect, known to police for previous offenses including public nuisance and drug-related crimes, was arrested and is under investigation.

According to Antwerp police, around 8:20 p.m. on Friday, the man arrived at Lamorinière Street, a central street in the Jewish quarter, where he harassed community members. Police spokesperson Wouter Bruyns reported that the suspect threatened one individual with the emergency hammer, knocked off another person's hat, pushed a passerby, and threw traffic signs to the ground. Despite the violent behavior, no one was injured.

The soldiers, deployed since March to enhance security around Jewish institutions and communities, quickly intervened, apprehended the suspect, and called the police. Witnesses said the man attempted to flee upon seeing the soldiers and tried to strike an elderly ultra-Orthodox Jew, missing his face but knocking off his hat. One witness remarked, "Luckily the soldiers were there. Who knows what would have happened if they weren't."

The increased security presence in Antwerp follows a series of antisemitic incidents across Europe, including a March 9 explosion near a synagogue in Liège, Belgium. Local residents in Antwerp's Jewish area have expressed that the soldiers' presence has significantly improved their sense of safety. Zvi Graskopf, chairman of the Shomrim organization in Antwerp, noted that since March, security has been substantially reinforced due to the Liège attack and rising antisemitic incidents, with residents feeling more secure thanks to the constant security forces' presence.