1981 Antwerp bombing
Encyclopedia
On October 20, 1981, a truck bomb exploded outside a Portuguese Jewish synagogue in the centre of Antwerp, Belgium
. Three people were killed and 106 wounded.
The explosion blew in the doors and stained-glass windows of the synagogue and smashed storefronts and windows for blocks around.
The bomb had been concealed in a delivery truck parked illegally overnight with one wheel removed, as if it had broken down. After the blast, only the vehicle's axles, some glass and other debris remained.
The attack took place on a Tuesday morning in the diamond district of Antwerp, shortly before Simchat Torah
religious services were to begin. It followed by one year the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing
, which took place on the eve of Simchat Torah.
The bombing was condemned as "diabolically wicked" by Belgian prime minister
Mark Eyskens
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Three people were killed and 106 wounded.
The explosion blew in the doors and stained-glass windows of the synagogue and smashed storefronts and windows for blocks around.
The bomb had been concealed in a delivery truck parked illegally overnight with one wheel removed, as if it had broken down. After the blast, only the vehicle's axles, some glass and other debris remained.
The attack took place on a Tuesday morning in the diamond district of Antwerp, shortly before Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah or Simḥath Torah is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle...
religious services were to begin. It followed by one year the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing
1980 Paris synagogue bombing
On October 3, 1980, the eve of Simchat Torah, a bomb went off outside the Union Libérale Israélite de France synagogue on Rue Copernic, Paris. Four people were killed and more than forty injured. The bomb, consisting of about of Semtex explosives, had been hidden in the saddlebags of a motorcycle...
, which took place on the eve of Simchat Torah.
The bombing was condemned as "diabolically wicked" by Belgian prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Mark Eyskens
Mark Eyskens
Marc Maria Frans, Viscount Eyskens , known as Mark Eyskens , is a Belgian economist and politician in the Christian People's Party , now called Christian Democratic and Flemish, and briefly served as Prime Minister of Belgium in 1981.-Background:He was born in Leuven, the son of Gaston Eyskens, and...
.