Belgian authorities have attributed two separate terrorist attacks in the cities of Liège and Antwerp earlier this year to Iran, according to a recent report. Gert Vercauteren, director of Belgium’s Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (CUTA), told French broadcaster Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF) that the attacks were carried out under instructions from Tehran, targeting Jewish communities in Europe.

The incidents, both occurring in March, involved an arson attack on a vehicle outside a Jewish-owned business in Antwerp and an explosion at a synagogue in Liège. The Islamist group Ashab al-Yamin claimed responsibility for the Antwerp attack, releasing a video showing three masked individuals setting a vehicle ablaze. Authorities arrested two minors in connection with this attack. However, Belgian and Israeli media reported at the time that the vehicle’s owner was not Jewish, though the attackers believed him to be haredi, or ultra-Orthodox.

Vercauteren described these operations as part of a broader, coordinated campaign that also included a thwarted attempt to attack a synagogue in the Netherlands. Belgian intelligence agencies intervened to prevent that incident.

Belgium currently maintains a "very serious" threat level, reflecting concerns over Islamist jihadist extremism, according to CUTA’s public assessments. Vercauteren linked this heightened alert to the geopolitical tensions surrounding the conflict involving Iran. He noted that while the overall share of threats from jihadist movements has decreased in 2025, newly radicalized individuals, rather than those returning from Syria or Iraq, now pose the primary risk.

In addition to Islamist extremism, Vercauteren pointed to the rise of violent extremist ideologies in the United States, describing the situation as a “dystopian vision.” He warned that some extremist groups aim to generate chaos and violence, drawing inspiration from diverse sources including neo-Nazi and Satanist circles. Vulnerable populations, such as minors, are often targeted for recruitment and radicalization.

Reflecting on Belgium’s response to these threats, Vercauteren stated that authorities have learned significant lessons and adapted their strategies accordingly. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach combining security measures, prevention efforts, and reintegration programs, noting that combatting extremism is a societal challenge beyond the capacity of security services alone.