THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) \u2014 An explosion which caused a small fire at the entrance of a synagogue in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam early Friday is being treated as arson, police said.<\/p>\n
No one was injured in the blaze that started around 3:40 a.m. (0240 GMT) and died down quickly, police said in a message on X that appealed for witnesses to come forward. No details about the nature of the explosive was given. <\/p>\n
Police later said four teenagers had been detained in a car near another synagogue in Rotterdam.<\/p>\n
A Jewish organization in the Netherlands said in a message on X that an Islamist group posted a video online of the Rotterdam explosion and said the same group had earlier claimed responsibility for a synagogue attack in the Belgian city of Liege<\/a> in the early hours of Monday. The authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified.<\/p>\n Lawmakers and Jewish organizations condemned what they described as an antisemitic attack.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the physical manifestation of antisemitism: after words and threats, actions now follow,\u201d Chanan Hertzberger, the chairman of the Central Jewish Council, said.<\/p>\n \u201cAntisemitism is no longer a fringe phenomenon in the Netherlands; it is manifesting itself increasingly brazenly. Now even right up to the doors of our houses of worship,\u201d Hertzberger added.<\/p>\n Justice and Security Minister David van Weel voiced support for the Jewish community.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must not tolerate antisemitism, intimidation, and violence,\u201d he said on X, adding that Jews \u201cmust feel safe in the Netherlands.\u201d<\/p>\n Synagogues around the world have been on edge and ramping up security since the U.S. and Israel launched a war with Iran<\/a> on Feb. 28.<\/p>\n The Rotterdam attack came a day after a naturalized U.S. citizen, who was born in Lebanon, crashed a vehicle into a synagogue<\/a> in Michigan in what the FBI called an act of violence targeting the Jewish community.<\/p>\n