A newly formed Islamist group has claimed responsibility for an explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam, releasing footage that purportedly shows the attack being carried out.
The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right published a video of the blast at the Netherlands' sole Orthodox Jewish school, found in the Buitenveldert district in the city's south.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema denounced the incident as a "deliberate attack against the Jewish community".
Footage shared by the Islamist group appeared to show the assailant planting the device and sprinting away from the building, accompanied by a theatrical-style epic soundtrack.
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The shaky phone footage then shows the incendiary munition going off, bathing the school’s wall in orange flame.
After the explosion, the assailant carrying out and filming the act sprints to a moped and speeds off.
Plastered over the video is the Islamist group’s insignia, a hand clutching a rifle emerging from Arabic text over a globe.
The branding has raised concerns over a potential Iranian connection as it bears a striking resemblance to imagery used by Iraqi armed groups and Hezbollah, both of which receive backing from the Islamic Republic.
A newly formed Islamist group has claimed responsibility for an explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam
|X: JOE TRUZMAN
Videos of the attacks have circulated widely through Telegram channels associated with the Axis of Resistance, the Tehran-directed network of militant organisations spanning Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen.
Social media accounts linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard have also shared footage attributed to the group, according to Jewish News.
However, the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, a US-based think tank, has cautioned that it remains "unclear if IMCR is a genuine organisation linked to Iran" or potentially a front group or hoax.
Belgium's federal prosecutor's office is analysing the videos to establish their origin and authenticity.
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The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right published a video of the blast
|X: JOE TRUZMAN
The explosion caused minor damage, charring an exterior wall and destroying a rain pipe, though no one was injured.
Police have also obtained CCTV footage showing an individual placing the explosive device.
Last night’s incident in Amsterdam was the fourth assault on a European Jewish site claimed by the group within a single week.
On Friday, the organisation took responsibility for setting fire to the A.B.N. Davidsplein synagogue in Rotterdam at approximately 3.40am local time, causing damage to the building before the blaze extinguished itself.
The group's symbol bore a striking resemblance to the branding of the Iran-backed group, Hezbollah
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Dutch police subsequently arrested four suspects in connection with that attack.
Earlier in the week, on March 9, a bomb detonated outside the Synagogue of Liège in Belgium at around 4am, shattering windows across the street but causing no injuries.
Belgium's federal prosecutor's office, which handles terrorism cases, is leading that investigation.
The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right has also claimed an attack in Greece on March 11, though it provided no specifics regarding the location or target.
The explosion caused minor damage, charring an exterior wall and destroying a rain pipe, though no one was injured
|GETTY
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten described this week's attacks in the Netherlands as "horrible" and acknowledged "the anger and fear" felt by the country's Jewish community.
"I will soon engage in dialogue with the Jewish community," Jetten wrote on X, adding: "They must always feel safe in our country."
Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands Zvi Vapni pledged that "Jewish life will continue to grow stronger" despite the "vile attack," adding that "antisemitism must be stopped, and those who perpetrated this attack must pay the full price for their crimes".
The European Jewish Congress expressed alarm at the pattern of incidents, stating that the repeated claims by the previously unknown group "raise serious concerns about a coordinated network targeting Jewish communities across Europe".
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