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Threat from Iran: Synagogues in Europe Guarded by Military
🇸🇪 Sweden /Conflict & Security

Threat from Iran: Synagogues in Europe Guarded by Military

From Dagens Nyheter · (2d ago) Swedish Critical tone

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • European cities, including Stockholm and Antwerp, have increased security around Jewish institutions due to threats from Iran.
  • Military presence, including soldiers with automatic weapons, is visible outside synagogues and Jewish schools.
  • The heightened security follows a series of attacks and threats against Jewish targets across Europe, with investigations pointing to links with Tehran.

The shadow of Iranian aggression has extended across Europe, transforming ordinary cityscapes into heavily guarded fortresses. In Stockholm, Israel's embassy is identified as a primary terror target, while in Antwerp, military personnel patrol streets lined with synagogues and Jewish schools. This heightened state of alert, with soldiers armed with automatic weapons, is a stark reality for European Jews, a direct consequence of escalating tensions with Iran.

Michael Freilich, a member of Belgium's parliament and a father of four, expresses a complex mix of unease and reassurance. While he finds it "shocking" to see heavily armed soldiers guarding places of worship, he also admits feeling "safer knowing that heavily armed military are protecting them." This sentiment captures the paradox of living under such a threat: the visible security measures provide a sense of protection, yet they are a constant reminder of the danger.

I actually feel safer when I know that soldiers are there for my children.

— Michael FreilichA parent and member of the Belgian parliament on the increased security around Jewish schools.

This situation is particularly resonant in Sweden and Belgium, countries that have experienced direct attacks or threats. From arson attempts on synagogues and ambulances in London and Antwerp to bombings in Liège and Amsterdam, the pattern is alarming. Investigations in several cases, including in Stockholm where Säpo (the Swedish Security Service) has confirmed Iran's use of proxy criminal networks for violent acts, point towards the Tehran regime. For us in Scandinavia and across Europe, this is not just a geopolitical issue; it's a tangible threat to our communities, forcing us to confront antisemitism and state-sponsored terrorism on our own soil. The presence of military on our streets, once unthinkable, is now a grim necessity.

It is a little shocking to be met by heavily armed soldiers with their faces covered every time I walk past the synagogue.

— Michael FreilichMichael Freilich describes his reaction to the visible military presence in Antwerp.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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