Amy Mek
In a disturbing escalation of online incitement and antisemitic violence, Antwerp police arrested five individuals this Sunday following social media calls to “hunt down Jews,” echoing similar scenes from Amsterdam just days earlier. As Antwerp’s Jewish community faces heightened fear, authorities mobilized swiftly, dispatching large police forces to patrol the Jewish quarter and conduct checks across the city. Among those detained was a 17-year-old identified as a key figure inciting violence online.
Images have surfaced showing aggressive acts against Jews in Antwerp, leading many to fear an alarming “copycat” trend could be gaining ground. Antwerp’s conservative mayor, Bart De Wever, emphasized the city’s commitment to the Jewish community’s security, responding forcefully to this weekend’s events. “In recent days, we have received information about possible actions inspired by what happened in Amsterdam,” stated Wouter Bruyns, a spokesman for the Antwerp police. This follows a recent assault in Amsterdam, where Israeli football fans were targeted after a match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Jews Under Attack in Belgium (Again)!
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) November 11, 2024
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Jewish residents in Antwerp… pic.twitter.com/ZmJKB792tV
Heightened Security in Antwerp’s Jewish Quarter
The city’s police force moved preemptively to deter further incidents, deploying a considerable presence in the Kielpark district, where social media messages announced a planned gathering at 3 p.m. Sunday. It was the second call to action within 48 hours, signaling what authorities worry could become a pattern of coordinated hostility.
“We are extremely vigilant,” said Mayor De Wever, who has long voiced concerns about the radicalization of anti-Israel sentiments into overt anti-Semitism in Belgium. “The Jewish community can count on me,” De Wever assured, referencing previous security measures taken under his administration, including potential redeployment of soldiers to guard the area if deemed necessary. He criticized the recent withdrawal of Defense forces by Belgium’s federal Vivaldi government, calling it “a slap in the face” for Antwerp’s Jewish residents.
Rising Concern Amid Anti-Semitic Escalation
The chilling turn in Antwerp comes amid broader European unrest, as heightened tensions in the Middle East are increasingly being seized upon by Muslims, mainly Islamic migrants, to justify hostility against Jewish communities. Mayor De Wever’s decisive stance highlights a growing call for government intervention as local leaders question the left-wing federal government’s complacency in safeguarding Jewish communities.
The city remains on edge, with heightened patrols and vigilant oversight, as calls grow louder for a return to previous security measures. For now, Antwerp’s Jewish community and its allies await action to preserve a safe environment. The city’s Jewish leaders have called on international organizations to closely monitor the situation and prepare additional security measures with community volunteers as a backup.
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