Military to guard Jewish sites across Belgium

Belgium will deploy military personnel to help secure synagogues and Jewish schools, following heightened concerns about antisemitic threats after the recent attack in Liège.

The decision was announced by federal authorities as an additional security measure to support overstretched police services and reassure the Jewish community.

The move comes just days after an explosion damaged a synagogue in Liège, prompting renewed concerns about the safety of Jewish institutions across the country.

Interior minister Bernard Quintin (MR) said the incident highlighted the seriousness of the threat.

"The attack on the synagogue in Liège has once again demonstrated that the threat to the Jewish community in Belgium is very real," he said.

"Ensuring the safety of our fellow citizens is the duty of the state in all its branches, independent of any political considerations."

Under the plan, soldiers will be deployed to guard sensitive sites, working alongside local police forces. Defence minister Theo Francken (N-VA) said the measure was intended to provide immediate reinforcement.

“With this deployment, we are strengthening the police services and contributing to the protection of the Jewish community in our country,” he said.

The deployment reflects ongoing pressure on police resources, particularly as security needs increase across multiple sites.

The decision has not been without controversy. Justice minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) said the move had not been discussed within the federal government beforehand, adding that she would raise the issue with colleagues and discuss the police resource shortage highlighted by the commissioner general.

Jewish institutions in Belgium have long required heightened protection, but recent events have led to renewed urgency around security measures.

The temporary deployment of military personnel is expected to remain in place while authorities assess the threat level and determine longer term solutions to ensure the safety of Jewish communities nationwide.