by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
NIJKERK, NETHERLANDS (Worthy News) – An explosion struck the Israel Center in the Dutch town of Nijkerk late Friday, police said, adding that no injuries were reported.
Authorities said the blast caused limited material damage, and an investigation was underway early Saturday in Nijkerk, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southeast of Amsterdam.
Police urged witnesses or anyone with information to come forward, as no suspects had been arrested.
CHRISTIANS FOR ISRAEL
The building houses the Israel Center operated by the Dutch foundation Christenen voor Israël (“Christians for Israel”), founded in 1980 by businessman Karel van Oordt.
The group serves as a meeting place and support hub for mainly evangelical and orthodox Protestant Christians backing Israel.
Speaking earlier, Sara van Oordt-Jonckheere, head of media and communication, said the organization has strengthened its commitment since the October 7, 2023, attacks against Israel, in which roughly 1,200 people were killed by Hamas—widely described as the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, or Shoah. “We stand even closer to the Jewish community,” she stressed.
Frank van Oordt, director of Christians for Israel, said intimidation has not deterred their mission. “The Jewish community experiences this constantly. It motivates us to stand even more firmly alongside them,” he said.
RISING SECURITY CONCERNS
The premises have been targeted before, including vandalism during demonstrations by pro-Palestinian activists and climate groups following the outbreak of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
The latest explosion follows a series of recent incidents in the Netherlands, including an explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam described by officials as a “deliberate attack,” and an arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam.
Authorities have increased security at Jewish institutions nationwide amid concerns about rising antisemitism.
TENSIONS AMID IRAN WAR
Security officials and analysts say the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war involving Iran has contributed to a rise in threats and attacks by extremists—including some linked to Islamist or Iran-backed networks—against Jewish and Israeli-linked targets across Europe.
Dutch authorities have acknowledged heightened risks around Jewish and pro-Israel locations, though it remained unclear whether Friday’s explosion was politically motivated or directly linked to earlier incidents.
Police said the investigation was ongoing.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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