Headlines
Police investigate overnight fire attack on rotterdam synagogue
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 13, 2026
Quick Summary
Dutch police are investigating an arson attack on a Rotterdam synagogue in the early hours of March 13. The fire was quickly extinguished; there were no injuries and no arrests. The incident comes amid a surge in antisemitic attacks linked to the US–Israeli war on Iran, including an explosion at a L
Dutch Police Investigate Fire Attack on Rotterdam Synagogue Amid Rising Concerns
Details and Context of Recent Synagogue Attacks
Incident Overview in Rotterdam
AMSTERDAM, March 13 (Reuters) - Dutch police open an investigation into an arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam on Friday, in the latest incident of suspected antisemitic violence since the start of the U.S-Israeli war on Iran.
No one was injured as a result of the fire, which was now over, and no arrests have been made, the city's police said.
Police Statement and Appeal for Witnesses
"Around 3:40 a.m., a fire was started at the synagogue," Rotterdam police said in a post on X. "The fire burned for a short time before extinguishing," the police added, calling for any witnesses to come forward with evidence.
Related Incidents in Europe and the United States
Explosion at Belgian Synagogue
Another synagogue, 200 km (124 miles) away in neighbouring Belgium, was hit by an explosion on Monday in what authorities said was an antisemitic attack. That attack caused damage but no injuries.
Attack in Michigan, United States
In Michigan in the U.S., a Lebanon-born U.S. citizen crashed his truck into a synagogue and its preschool and was shot dead.
Rising Global Concerns
Impact of International Tensions
Concerns about possible attacks against Jewish communities around the world have risen following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and a subsequent response by Iran.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Inti Landauro;Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta, William Maclean)
Key Takeaways
- •Rotterdam police confirmed that a fire was started at the synagogue around 3:40 a.m. and extinguished shortly after, with no injuries or arrests reported.
- •A Belgian synagogue in Liège was damaged by an explosion on March 9, widely condemned as an antisemitic act by officials, with an investigation under way.
- •Global antisemitic incidents have surged since the US–Israel war against Iran began, with nearly half of recent incidents linked to motivations from the conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions about Police investigate overnight fire attack on Rotterdam synagogue
1What happened at the Rotterdam synagogue?
A fire was intentionally set at the synagogue in Rotterdam around 3:40 a.m. Police are investigating the arson attack.
2Were there any injuries in the Rotterdam synagogue fire?
No one was injured as a result of the fire at the Rotterdam synagogue.
3Has anyone been arrested for the Rotterdam synagogue attack?
No arrests have been made yet in connection to the Rotterdam synagogue fire.
4Are there similar recent attacks on synagogues in Europe?
Yes, another synagogue in Belgium was hit by an explosion earlier this week, also suspected to be an antisemitic attack.
5Why are concerns rising about attacks on Jewish communities?
Concerns have risen due to a series of recent attacks worldwide following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and Iran's subsequent response.
