Dutch police have launched a search for a suspected terrorist after a building belonging to a pro-Israel Christian group was bombed on Friday evening.
An explosion occurred at the Israel Center in the Nijkerk municipality in the central Netherlands late Friday night, resulting in limited damage to the building and, fortunately, no injuries.
According to the Dutch public broadcaster, police are currently searching for a suspect who was wearing black clothes and was reportedly seen planting explosives in front of the building.
The Israel Center, run by a Christian group seeking to promote better relations with Israel, frequently hosts lectures regarding the Jewish state and sells products produced in Israel.
It has previously been the victim of anti-Israel acts, such as vandals spraying graffiti on the building or protests taking place nearby. However, director Frank Van Oordt stated that the apparent bombast represents a drastic increase.
He said, “Those who come to express their dissatisfaction are within the right to protest. It is fine.” “This is an attack. We have never experienced anything like this before.”
Responding to the attack, Nijkerk mayor Tinette De Jonge-Ruitenbeek said: “Our care and compassion is for Christian people in Israel and for the local residents. It is terrible that they have to experience this. I have been to the Israel Center and spoken to the people there and am impressed by their resilience.”
Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands, Zvi Vapni, couple: “First, Jews were intimidated and attacked in the Netherlands. Now Christians who support Israel are also being targeted.”
“This explosion at the Christensen Voor Israel Center in Nijkerk is not an isolated incident: these criminals must be caught and punished. This is the only way to deal with radicals who want to spread fear and hatred.”
Indeed, the attack follows several other attacks against Jewish institutions across the Netherlands in recent weeks, including a fire at a synagogue in Rotterdam and another explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam in suspected acts of revenge over the conflict in Iran.
