Authorities in Liège, Belium have strongly denounced an early-morning explosion outside a synagogue, describing it as a grave act of anti-Semitism.
The blast occurred shortly before 4 a.m. on Monday outside the synagogue in the eastern Belgian city.
No injuries were reported, but the explosion damaged windows in buildings located opposite the place of worship.
Police quickly cordoned off the area, shutting down the street and setting up a security perimeter as investigators began examining the scene.
Liège Mayor Willy Demeyer condemned the incident in strong terms, calling it an “extremely violent act of anti-Semitism.”
“The mayor and the city council express their total condemnation of this extremely violent act of anti-Semitism, which is contrary to the Liège tradition of respect for others,” Demeyer said, according to the Belga news agency.
He also cautioned against allowing international tensions to spill over into the city, referencing the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran.
Meanwhile, Yves Oschinsky, president of the Committee of Jewish Organisations in Belgium, described the explosion as “an extremely disturbing, serious and worrying anti-Semitic act.”
