A court in Bruges sentenced a Chechen man and his wife to 15 and 8 years in prison, respectively, for planning a terrorist attack last summer targeting a Jewish neighborhood in Antwerp and other locations across Belgium.
According to reports, the couple and additional suspects had rented a warehouse to store weapons and conducted surveillance of police activity, visiting potential targets.
The group had planned attacks on various locations in Antwerp, including the Jewish neighborhood, crowded areas, a police station and a NATO building.
The key figure, identified as Abu Bakr, received the heaviest sentence of 15 years. Abu Bakr had openly expressed his desire to spread fear and kill, sending videos on bomb-making and pledging allegiance to Islamic State. He also recruited new members, raised funds and ensured that Islamic State would claim responsibility for the attacks. During the trial, Abu Bakr disrupted the proceedings multiple times, insulting the judge, and was eventually sent back to his cell.
Denmark: Man charged with arson attack on Jewish woman’s home
In Denmark, a 21-year-old man was arrested and charged with terrorism for setting fire to the balcony of a Jewish woman’s home in Copenhagen. The May 29 incident involved the man and unidentified accomplices igniting furniture on the balcony. The fire was extinguished by firefighters, and no one was injured.
Due to a court order, the names of the suspect and the victim have been withheld. The arson took place amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in Denmark since October 7. The suspect, who was arrested in Finland and extradited to Denmark, is accused of using flammable liquids to start the fire.
Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service linked the suspect to the banned immigrant gang Loyal to Familia, outlawed in 2021. “It is serious when someone becomes a target for terrorism in Denmark because of their Jewish background,” said Finn Borch Andersen, head of the security agency. “It is too early to assess if this is an isolated incident or part of a broader terrorist threat.”
The Jewish community in Denmark expressed relief that no one was harmed, while the suspect’s lawyer said that his client denies the charges. The 21-year-old will remain in custody until October 7.