Attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe

Reference TimelineLast updated APR 8
SUMMARY

An explosion occurred at the Israel Center in Nijkerk on April 3, 2026, causing minor damage and no injuries, which authorities are investigating as a targeted attack within a pattern of attacks on Jewish and pro-Israel institutions. As of April 2, 2026, European authorities are investigating potential links to Iran, suspecting the extremist group HAYI, which claimed responsibility for attacks in the Netherlands, may be a front for Iranian-directed operations. Dutch authorities detained two teenagers on March 20, 2026, west of Amsterdam after finding suspected explosive materials near a Jewish institution, likely preventing an attack. This follows an explosion that damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam on March 14, 2026, and a small fire at a synagogue in Rotterdam on March 13, 2026, for which four men were arrested. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema described the school explosion as "a deliberate attack against the Jewish community."

Timeline

Want updates on this thread?

Track this story

April 2026 — 2 developments

  1. An explosion occurred at the Israel Center in Nijkerk on April 3, 2026, causing minor damage and no injuries.

    An explosion occurred at the Israel Center in Nijkerk on April 3, 2026, causing minor damage and no injuries. Authorities are investigating this as a targeted attack, considering it within a pattern of attacks on Jewish and pro-Israel institutions.

  2. European authorities are investigating potential links to Iran, suspecting the extremist group HAYI,…

    European authorities are investigating potential links to Iran, suspecting the extremist group HAYI, which claimed responsibility for attacks in the Netherlands, may be a front for Iranian-directed operations. This investigation is in connection with threats against Jewish institutions.

March 2026 — 5 developments

  1. Dutch authorities detained two teenagers on March 20, 2026, west of Amsterdam after finding suspected explosive materials near a Jewish institution.

    Dutch authorities detained two teenagers on March 20, 2026, west of Amsterdam after finding suspected explosive materials near a Jewish institution. Authorities believe surveillance likely prevented an attack in this instance, which is part of a series of attacks targeting Jewish institutions.

  2. Amsterdam police have released surveillance footage of two suspects on a motor scooter who allegedly placed an explosive device against a Jewish school's wall.

    Amsterdam police have released surveillance footage of two suspects on a motor scooter who allegedly placed an explosive device against a Jewish school's wall. City officials condemned the blast as a "deliberate attack" and a "cowardly act of aggression."

  3. An extremist group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), has claimed responsibility for the ex…

    An extremist group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), has claimed responsibility for the explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam on March 14, 2026, and a subsequent explosion at an office building in the city days later. The group has also claimed responsibility for other attacks across Europe, though its authenticity is under investigation.

  4. An explosion damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday, in what the city's mayor described as "a deliberate attack against the Jewish community.

    An explosion damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday, in what the city's mayor described as "a deliberate attack against the Jewish community." The explosion caused limited damage, and no injuries were reported. Police are investigating the incident, examining camera footage for clues. This event occurred just one day after a similar attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam, raising fears of a coordinated campaign of antisemitic violence.

  5. An explosion caused a small fire at a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Friday night.

    An explosion caused a small fire at a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Friday night. Four men were arrested in connection with the incident. A newly formed extremist group, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was in response to the Israel-Hamas war. This event heightened concerns about potential copycat attacks and the spread of extremist ideologies.

April 2025 — 1 developments

  1. Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, issued an apology for the city's role in the persecution of its Jewish citizens during World War II.

    Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, issued an apology for the city's role in the persecution of its Jewish citizens during World War II. She stated that civil servants actively participated in the deportation and murder of Jewish residents. Halsema's apology followed an "eruption of antisemitism" six months prior, involving assaults on Israeli soccer fans, and a previous apology in 2020 for Amsterdam's role in the global slave trade. This historical reckoning aimed to acknowledge past wrongs and foster reconciliation.

February 2025 — 1 developments

  1. Dutch police investigated a serious email threat made against the Jewish school Cheider in Amsterdam.

    Dutch police investigated a serious email threat made against the Jewish school Cheider in Amsterdam. The threat, sent from Turkey, stated an intention to shoot three children dead. The school, located in the Buitenveldert neighborhood, had already been heavily secured for years with extensive fencing, bollards, and guarded access points. This incident underscored ongoing security concerns for Jewish educational institutions in the city.

November 2024 — 3 developments

  1. Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, expressed regret over her use of the word "pogrom" to describe the attacks on Israeli tourists.

    Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, expressed regret over her use of the word "pogrom" to describe the attacks on Israeli tourists. She stated that while the events brought back memories of pogroms, the term had become politicized and used as propaganda. Halsema noted that Israeli officials and some Dutch politicians used the word to discriminate against Moroccan and Muslim residents. The attacks involved assailants searching for Israeli fans, with some Maccabi fans also engaging in violent behavior, leading to a complex public discourse.

  2. Mayor Femke Halsema released a report concluding that violence in Amsterdam was sparked by a "toxic …

    Mayor Femke Halsema released a report concluding that violence in Amsterdam was sparked by a "toxic cocktail" of antisemitism, football hooliganism, and anger over the Israel-Palestine war. The report acknowledged that while "terrible things happened," it did not negate the "hunt for Jews" that occurred. The findings were presented to the city council, with Halsema lamenting that injustice was done to both Jewish residents and minority groups sympathetic to Palestinians. This analysis aimed to contextualize the attacks and inform future policy.

  3. Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, condemned "hit and run" attacks on Israeli football fans following a Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax.

    Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, condemned "hit and run" attacks on Israeli football fans following a Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax. Mayor Halsema described the events as a "black night and a dark day" for the city, noting that men on scooters attacked supporters. The violence brought to mind historical anti-Jewish pogroms in Europe. Approximately 62 people were arrested, and five were treated in hospital, underscoring rising tensions and security concerns.