Liège Synagogue Suspect Remains in Custody as Probe Links to Iran-Backed Network

A suspect arrested in connection with the explosion outside the synagogue in Liège has been ordered to remain in detention, as Belgian authorities continue to unravel what investigators describe as a transnational terrorist plot linked to an Iran-backed militia network. The Liège resident, who appeared before the indictment chamber on July 2, is suspected of driving the vehicle used in the attack and denies any involvement, according to his lawyer.

The Attack and Initial Response

On March 9, 2026, in the early hours of the morning, an explosion occurred at the main entrance of the synagogue on Rue Léon Frédéricq in Liège, a classified historical monument inaugurated in 1899. Window glass from several nearby buildings was blown out, but no injuries were reported and only material damage was sustained, according to RTBF.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office immediately took over the investigation, as is standard for organized crime and terrorism cases in Belgium. Anti-terrorism specialists from the federal judicial police were dispatched to the scene. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned the attack as “an abject antisemitic act that directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium,” as France 24 reported. Liège Mayor Willy Demeyer denounced what he called “the importation of conflicts that happen elsewhere.”

The Investigation Widens

Nearly four months after the explosion, the investigation took a significant turn. On June 25, seven people were arrested following multiple searches in the Liège judicial district, conducted under the direction of an investigating judge in a federal terrorism case. The RTBF reported that one person was placed under an arrest warrant the following day, while four others were released. The QU4TRE media outlet confirmed that the searches were carried out under a federal terrorism dossier.

The suspect who remains in custody is believed to have been the driver of the vehicle used in the explosion. On July 2, the “chambre du conseil” (indictment chamber) ordered him to remain in detention pending further investigation.

International Dimension: The Alleged Mastermind

The Liège attack is increasingly understood as part of a coordinated international campaign. On May 15, 2026, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a commander of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kata’ib Hezbollah, was arrested in Turkey. According to Wikipedia, al-Saadi was born in 1993 in Iran to Iraqi Shia parents and is accused by the U.S. Justice Department of plotting or being involved in terrorist attacks in Europe and North America, including against Jewish sites.

Al-Saadi is alleged to have coordinated the Liège synagogue bombing as part of a broader campaign targeting Jewish places of worship in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026. He is also linked to the stabbing of two Jewish men in London in April 2026 and a plot against a New York City synagogue.

Related Attacks and Claims of Responsibility

On March 13, just four days after the Liège explosion, an arson attack occurred at a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with investigators noting similarities in target, method, and timing. An Islamist terrorist group, described as a “dormant Iranian cell,” released a video claiming responsibility for the Liège attack, according to the Jewish Information and Documentation Centre (JID). A text dated March 9 stated the group had decided “to wage war against the United States and Israel in the world.”

Security Response and Community Impact

Belgian authorities responded swiftly to the heightened threat. In March, ministers announced the deployment of military personnel to protect synagogues and Jewish schools across the country. By April 10, a permanent military presence was stationed outside the Liège synagogue. The synagogue itself reopened on May 3 with a high-security ceremony attended by Chief Rabbi Albert Guigui, U.S. Ambassador Bill White, and Israeli Ambassador Idit Rosenzweig-Abu.

Security expert Michaël Dantinne described the attack as “a rudimentary terrorist act with a communication objective,” suggesting the primary goal was intimidation rather than mass casualties. The JID warned that the perpetrators’ willingness to film and publish their actions demonstrated that “extremist networks are moving through our streets with a deeply worrying sense of impunity.”

What’s Next

As the investigation continues, several questions remain unanswered. The extradition process for al-Saadi from Turkey is ongoing, and it is unclear how many additional individuals may be connected to the network. Belgian authorities have not disclosed the specific evidence linking the detained Liège suspect to al-Saadi’s broader operation. The case underscores the evolving threat posed by Iran-linked militia networks operating through dormant cells in Europe, and the challenge of protecting Jewish communities across the continent.