Explosion in Amsterdam claimed by group linked to attack on Jewish school, synagogue

An explosion started a small fire at the Atrium office complex in Amsterdam’s Zuidas district overnight, the police confirmed to local media. Unverified video of the attack is circulating on social media, with reports that it was claimed by the same group that claimed earlier attacks on a Jewish school in Amsterdam and a synagogue in Rotterdam.

The explosion happened at the building on Strawinskylaan just before 1:00 a.m. on Monday. Building security managed to extinguish the small fire, a police spokesperson told Parool. The incident caused minor damage to the building’s door. No injuries were reported.

The video circulating online shows images of the Atrium office complex, followed by a backpack and a lighter, lighting a fuse. The police are aware of the footage and are investigating, a spokesperson told AT5, stressing that the video is unverified.

The action was reportedly aimed at the Bank of New York, an American bank located in the building. The video contains the text: “In the name of Allah, the Nost Gracious, the Most Merciful, this is a final warning to all the peoples of the world, especially in the European Union. Distance yourself from all American and Zionist interests.”

The group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyyah, which roughly translates to ‘The Movement of the Righteous’, claimed the attack. The group also claimed an arson at a synagogue in Rotterdam during the early hours of Friday, and an explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday.

Experts from the Clingendael Institute told Trouw earlier on Monday that the war in Iran could lead to more attacks in Europe and the Netherlands, likely targeting places linked to Israel and the United States, which started the war with attacks on Iran.