Recent Attacks on Jewish Sites in Europe Likely Linked to Iran
A series of attacks targeting Jewish institutions in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Greece earlier this month are increasingly believed to be orchestrated by the Iranian government, according to a new report. The incidents, which included arson and attempted bombings, have raised concerns about Iran’s expanding reach and willingness to target Jewish communities abroad.
The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) released a report concluding that the attacks were “highly likely” commissioned by the Iranian regime. The report suggests that local recruits, potentially drawn from criminal networks, carried out the attacks. Authorities have noted the vulnerability of countries like the Netherlands and Belgium due to their established drug trafficking infrastructure, which could be exploited for recruitment purposes.
The attacks began on March 9 in Liège, Belgium, with a firebombing of a synagogue. Similar incidents followed in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Netherlands, targeting synagogues and a Jewish school. On March 14, a Jewish school in Amsterdam was targeted in an explosion, prompting a large police response. Police have received 150 tips related to the Amsterdam incident, according to reports.
A previously unknown group calling itself the “Movement of the Righteous,” or Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, claimed responsibility for the attacks through videos posted on social media. The group’s logo, featuring a hand holding a Dragunov rifle over a globe, closely resembles those used by Iranian-backed militant groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq. This similarity has fueled suspicions of Iranian involvement.
According to reports, the digital footprint of the group has been a key factor in linking them to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Investigators have confirmed that the images circulated by the group accurately depict the scenes of the attacks. The group’s name translates to “Islamic movement of the righteous.”
Notably, a similar attack on a Jewish target occurred in Greece on the same night as the Liège synagogue bombing, but received less media attention. The “Movement of the Righteous” also claimed responsibility for the Greek attack.
Dutch authorities are also investigating potential terrorist motives behind the arrest of two boys, ages 14 and 17, in Heemstede on March 22, who were suspected of preparing an attack with fireworks. Officials believe a synagogue may have been their intended target. The case highlights the growing concern over radicalization and potential attacks within Europe.
Students and teachers at the Cheider school in Amsterdam expressed fear following the attack, with one individual stating, “It would be strange if you didn’t feel any fear at all.”
