An explosion damaged a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège early on Monday (9 March) in what authorities said was an antisemitic attack that caused damage but no injuries.

The explosion, which occurred at around 4 a.m. (0300 GMT), blew out the windows of the synagogue as well as those of a building on the opposite side of the road, public broadcaster RTBF reported.

The cause was not immediately clear, but prosecutors said the case had been handed to federal authorities, which normally investigate incidents linked to terrorism or organised crime.

Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin called the explosion “a despicable antisemitic act that directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium”.

He said security measures around similar sites would continue to be reinforced.

Eitan Bergman, vice-president of the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organisations in Belgium (CCOJB), said the targeting of the synagogue was deeply shocking.

“Liège is home to a very small but vibrant Jewish community where I personally grew up. Today, the feelings among our community members are a mixture of sadness, worry and profound shock,” he told Reuters.

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Police have cordoned off the largely residential street on the bank of the River Meuse opposite Liège city centre.

Federal prosecutors declined to give further details about the incident.

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