Netherlands probing if Rotterdam synagogue attack has Iran link, minister says

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)