Netherlands probing if Rotterdam synagogue attack has Iran link, minister says
Tweet
Share
E-mail
FILE PHOTO: Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel speaks to the media, on the day of a Council of Europe diplomatic conference to launch a convention establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine, aimed at handling compensation claims relat
AMSTERDAM, March 17 (Reuters) - The Netherlands is investigating whether Iran was involved in the attack on a Rotterdam synagogue on Friday, Justice Minister David van Weel has said, adding that the suspects apprehended for the attack had most likely been recruited.
"The possibility that Iran is involved in this attack is... being explicitly investigated", Van Weel told parliament on Tuesday, though he did not cite a conclusive link between Iran and the attack ahead of the investigation's conclusions.
Dutch prosecutors said on Monday that the four men suspected of causing the Rotterdam synagogue explosion had done so with terrorist intent.
The four, aged 17 to 19, were apprehended shortly after an arson attack caused a fire at the synagogue early on Friday.
In the past week, several attacks have taken place in the Netherlands, including one on a Jewish school in Amsterdam. There has also been an attack on a synagogue in Liege, in neighbouring Belgium.
The attacks, which caused no injuries, were all claimed on social media platform X by an extremist group, though police are still investigating whether the group was actually behind them.
Van Weel previously said that a link between the explosions in Amsterdam and Rotterdam could not be excluded, but did not confirm any claims made on social media.
The attacks have triggered heightened security at Jewish sites in the Netherlands.
Concerns about possible attacks against Jewish communities around the world have risen following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and the subsequent response from Tehran.
(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Pooja Desai)
Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!
You May Also Be Interested In
- Nvidia-backed startup Fireworks valued at $17.5 billion in latest funding
- Twenty-nine countries sign agreement to establish global AI cooperation body
- GE Aerospace pushes back on GEnx delay concerns, says Boeing has months of engine supply
Create E-mail Alert Related Categories
ReutersSign up for StreetInsider Free!
Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!
