Belgium has redeployed soldiers to key cities including Brussels and Antwerp to protect synagogues, Jewish schools and other community sites after a series of antisemitic incidents. The decision follows an explosion at a synagogue in Liège and related attacks in the Netherlands, where five suspects were arrested in the Rotterdam synagogue arson. Authorities said the troop deployment will be phased — starting in Brussels and Antwerp and later extending to Liège — and will operate alongside federal police. Rights groups warned of increased risks to Jewish communities amid a wider regional escalation.
Belgium Deploys Soldiers to Guard Jewish Sites After Wave of Antisemitic Attacks
Belgian army personnel patroll a street as part of a deployment of soldiers outside Jewish institutions in Antwerp and Brussels following attacks at Jewish sites in Belgium and other European countries, in Antwerp, Belgium, March 23, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman
BRUSSELS, March 23 (Reuters) — Belgian soldiers returned to the streets of major cities on Monday to strengthen security for the country's Jewish community after what officials described as a series of antisemitic attacks in Belgium and neighbouring the Netherlands.
An explosion earlier this month at a synagogue in Liège has been classified by authorities as an antisemitic incident. Belgian officials said the deployment, carried out in coordination with federal police, will provide security at synagogues, Jewish schools and other community sites.
“From today we're putting soldiers back on the streets in Brussels and Antwerp because safety is a basic right,” Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken wrote on X on Monday.
Deployment Phasing: A defence ministry spokesperson said troops will be deployed in three phases — first in Brussels and Antwerp, and later in Liège — with soldiers operating alongside federal police to secure vulnerable sites.
Belgian army personnel patrol a street as part of a deployment of soldiers outside Jewish institutions in Antwerp and Brussels following attacks at Jewish sites in Belgium and other European countries, in Antwerp, Belgium, March 23, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman
The move follows related attacks in neighbouring the Netherlands, including an arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam and an explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam. Dutch police have arrested five suspects, aged 17 to 19, in connection with the Rotterdam synagogue attack.
Norwegian investigators have also branded a bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo earlier this month as an act of terrorism. Authorities said none of the recent incidents resulted in physical injuries.
Rights groups have warned of heightened threats to Jewish communities worldwide amid an escalation of hostilities involving the U.S., Israel and Iran. In north London, four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community organisation were set alight on Monday.
(Reporting by Alexander Chituc; Editing by William Maclean)
Help us improve.
