Antwerp synagogue bombing
- 1981 - 1981
Identification of the Source
Participation D3.5 Religious communities: analyzing and discussing religious polarization and extremism
Keywords
Antisemitism, Hate crime, religious terrorism, Black September, Truck bombingDescription
The synagogue bombing in short was a terrorist attack that occurred on 20 October 1981 in Antwerp, Belgium. A truck bomb exploded outside a Portuguese Jewish synagogue, killing three people and injuring 106 others. The attack was claimed by the Palestinian group Black September, which was also responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre. The Belgian police arrested three German neo-Nazis for the attack, but later released them. In 2008, a man of Palestinian origin was arrested in Canada as a suspect for the bombing and another attack in Paris
Type of Crime
Hate crime, religious terrorism; truck bombing
Modus Operandi
The perpetrators used a truck bomb to attack the synagogue in Antwerp on 20 October 1981. The truck was parked outside the synagogue and detonated by remote control. The bomb contained about 100 kg of explosives and shrapnel
The Belgian police arrested three German neo-Nazis for the attack, but later released them due to lack of evidence. The neo-Nazis were suspected of having links with Black September and providing logistical support for the attack
In 2008, a man of Palestinian origin was arrested in Canada as a suspect for the bombing and another attack in Paris. He was identified by DNA evidence and confessed to being a member of Black September and participating in the attacks
People involved
The perpetrators: Two Palestinian terrorists who belonged to the Black September group, which was also responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre. They used a truck bomb to attack the synagogue in Antwerp on 20 October 1981. The truck was parked outside the synagogue and detonated by remote control. The bomb contained about 100 kg of explosives and shrapnel
The victims: Three people who were killed and 106 others who were injured by the blast. The victims included Jewish worshippers, tourists, passers-by and police officers. The victims were of different nationalities, such as Belgian, Israeli, French, American and British
Criminal History
The two perpetrators of the Antwerp bombing were never identified or captured by the Belgian authorities. However, in 2008, a man of Palestinian origin was arrested in Canada as a suspect for the bombing and another attack in Paris. He was identified by DNA evidence and confessed to being a member of Black September and participating in the attacks
Influential and/or vulnerable Groups
Black September Organization: A militant faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) that carried out several terrorist attacks against Israeli and Western targets in the 1970s. The group was named after the Black September conflict in Jordan in 1970, when King Hussein expelled the PLO from his country.
The Jewish community in Belgium: They are a vulnerable group that has faced antisemitic attacks, threats and discrimination from various sources, including Palestinian militants, neo-Nazis and conspiracy theorists.