Antwerp Arson Incident: Minors Arrested, Antisemitic Motive Suspected

Two minors were arrested overnight between Monday and Tuesday in Antwerp, Belgium, in connection with an arson incident. A Belgian official stated the act is suspected to be antisemitic.

Islamist Group Claims Responsibility

The Islamist group Ashab al-Yamin claimed responsibility for the incident. They published a video reportedly showing three masked individuals igniting a vehicle after pouring a flammable liquid on it.

The Intended Target

The vehicle was parked outside a Jewish-owned business in Antwerp. Although the arsonists allegedly believed the vehicle belonged to an ultra-Orthodox individual, its owner is not Jewish.

Ashab al-Yamin's Declaration

In their claim, Ashab al-Yamin stated that Antwerp is a significant European city with a "large Zionist community." The group issued a stark declaration regarding their motives:

"Operations will continue to escalate and intensify until the liberation of the occupied lands in beloved Palestine and revenge for the blood of Palestinians, Lebanese, and all Muslims."