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| Jewish Museum of Belgium shooting | |
|---|---|
 The Jewish Museum of Belgium, pictured in 2009 | |
| Location | Jewish Museum of Belgium Brussels, Belgium |
| Date | 24 May 2014 (2014-05-24) 15:50 CEST (UTC+02:00) |
| Attack type | Shooting |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Injured | 1 (very critical condition) |
On 24 May 2014, a gunman opened fire at the Jewish Museum of Belgium in Brussels, Belgium, killing three people and critically wounding a fourth before fleeing the scene.
One French and one Belgian citizen were identified amongst the victims, while the other two were Israeli citizens Emanuel and Miriam Riva, a middle-aged couple on holiday from Tel Aviv.
Shooting
Police believe the attack started when a man walked into the museum with a Kalashnikov rifle. He then opened fire, killing three people on site and critically wounding a fourth, who was soon taken to hospital. The attack lasted less than one minute, after which the shooter fled the scene, and was partially captured by security cameras. According to security camera footage, the attacker appeared to wear a chest-mounted camera, like Mohammed Merah who filmed his acts during the 2012 Toulouse and Montauban shootings.
The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders, happened to be in the vicinity of the museum and heard the gunshots. The Minister of the Interior, Joëlle Milquet, was also nearby and arrived on the scene a few minutes later.
Milquet suspected anti-Semitic motives behind the shootings and Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur described them as a likely terror attack.
A nationwide manhunt was launched for the attacker, who was described as being of medium height and athletic build, and wearing a dark baseball cap. His image, partly obscured was captured on CCTV. Deputy prosecutor Ine Van Wymersch said the shooter "probably acted alone, was armed and well prepared." She stated that the gunman's motive for the attack was "open". A man who was seen driving from the museum was detained, but released after questioning, and remains a witness in the investigation.
Reactions
Domestic
Belgium's Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo condemned the attack. "In Belgium we are not accustomed to such acts of barbarity," he said.
Joel Rubinfeld of the Belgian League Against Antisemitism described the act as "the inevitable result of a climate that distills hatred... it will be necessary to use all legal means to silence the preachers of this hate who are responsible for spreading this virus of anti-Jewish hatred", specifically mentioning the anti-Zionist and Holocaust-denying representative, Laurent Louis, and controversial French comedian Dieudonné. Laurent denied Rubinfeld's accusations, suggesting that the attack could have been a false flag operation seeking to discredit him and his political party, Debout les Belges (Stand Up, Belgians), on the eve of the Belgian federal elections.
Belgian politician Mischaël Modrikamen, leader of the conservative People's Party and himself a member of Belgium's Jewish community, said "Sadly, however, the actual attack comes as no surprise to us after years of living in an atmosphere of rampant anti-Semitism that often leads to violence."
Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, who arrived at the museum shortly after the shooting, wrote on Twitter: "Shocked by the murders committed at the Jewish Museum, my thoughts go to the victims that I saw on the site and their families".
The League of Muslims in Belgium condemned the attack as "barbaric". In a statement the league said, "These crimes with racist and anti-Semitic accents are unfortunately likely to reverse in our country the efforts of all those who, on a daily basis, are working for a society where everyone, regardless of his religious and philosophical beliefs, can live in dignity and respect.
International
Countries
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman blamed anti-Israel incitement, especially in Europe, for the shooting, stating, "There are elements in Europe that rush to condemn the construction of a flat in Jerusalem but who do not rush to condemn, or offer only a weak condemnation of the murder of Jews here or in Europe itself." He praised Elio Di Rupo, who telephoned to express condolences and update the Israeli leader on the investigation. Israeli President Shimon Peres also called upon European leaders to act against “any form of anti-Semitism” which he said was “rearing its head across the continent”. Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman stated that the attack was the result of European antisemitism and incitement against the Jewish State, such as the movement to boycott Israeli products, which is similar to the Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses. He contrasted European reactions to Palestinian terrorism with Israeli settlement construction.
Carl Bildt, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, wrote on Twitter: "Despicable attack on the Jewish Museum in Brussels. An affront against the values our modern Europe represents." Birgitta Ohlsson, Minister for EU Affairs, also wrote on Twitter: "I'm shocked about the anti-Semitic attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels just one Day before the elections to the European Parliament."
French President François Hollande condemned the "horrifying killings with the greatest force." In a statement, he expressed France's solidarity with neighboring Belgium and condolences to the families of victims.
Organizations
- Rabbi Menachem Margolin, General Director of the European Jewish Association, thanked the European leaders who had condemned the attack for their remarks, but stressed that, “condemnation after a predictable attack is nothing but a way to cleanse one’s conscience...There is a need to establish a pan-European taskforce in order to annihilate anti-Semitism." He later added that, "Such an attack was to be expected in light of rising anti-Semitism in Europe. The governments of Europe have to take steps, words aren't enough."
Pope Francis, who was visiting the Middle East at the time of the attacks, said he was deeply saddened by the killings in "this criminal act of anti-Semitic hatred". "My thoughts go out to those who lost their lives in the attack in Brussels," he said. "I entrust the victims to God."
Ban Ki Moon's spokesman said in a statement that the Secretary General "reiterates his strong condemnation of all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and trusts that Belgian authorities will do everything possible to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators of this crime to justice swiftly."
- World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder reacted with shock, saying “Two years after Toulouse, and on the eve of the European elections, this despicable attack is yet another terrible reminder of the kind of threats Europe’s Jews are currently facing."
See also
- History of the Jews in Belgium
- History of Brussels
- Toulouse and Montauban shootings
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum shooting (2009)
- 2011 Liège attack
- 1981 Antwerp bombing
References
- ^ "People shot dead while walking through Jewish museum". Big News Network. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Casert, Raf (25 May 2014). "Belgium ramps up security for lone suspect in Jewish Museum attack". The Globe and the Mail. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- "Report: Israeli couple among Brussels Jewish museum shooting victims". The Jerusalem Post. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- "Belgian police in appeal to public over gunman identity". BBC News Online. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- "Fusillade à Bruxelles: le parquet qualifie les faits de "terroristes"". La Libre (in French). 26 May 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - "Four dead in shooting at Jewish museum in Brussels". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/05/25/photos-of-jewish-museum-shooter-released-as-belgium-launches-nationwide-manhunt-for-suspect-who-killed-four/
- "Belgian police in appeal to public over gunman identity". BBC. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - "Fusillade au Musée Juif à Bruxelles: "Ce qui s'est passé était prévisible"". RTL Group. 24 May 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - "La nouvelle Ligue belge contre l'antisémitisme "ne concurrence pas le Mrax"" (in French). Rtbf.be. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- "Une fusillade près d'un musée juif à Bruxelles fait trois morts et un blessé grave" (in French). Huffingtonpost.fr. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- "Tuerie au Musée juif de Bruxelles : Laurent Louis « ne croit pas au hasard »". Conspiracy Watch (in French). 24 May 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - Cnaan Lipshitz (25 May 2014). "Museum attack comes as no surprise to Belgian Jews". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
- "Tweet by @dreynders". Twitter. 24 May 2014.
- "Belgian Muslims condemn attack on Jewish Museum in Brussels". Kuwait News Agency. 25/05/2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "After Belgium attack, PM pans European 'hypocrisy'". The Times of Israel. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- Somfavli, Atilla (25 May 2014). "Netanyahu slams Brussels shooting as result of hateful incitement". Ynetnews. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- Template:Twitter status
- Template:Twitter status
- ^ "Jewish and world leaders slam Brussels shooting, urge greater security". Ynetnews. 25 May 2014. Cite error: The named reference "Jewish and world leaders slam Brussels shooting, urge greater security" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- "Solidarity protests mark site of Brussels gun attack". Ynetnews. 26 May 2014.
- "Investigators divided on terror motives in Brussels Jewish Museum shooting". Jerusalem Post. 27 May 2014.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - "Ban Ki-Moon condemns Brussels shooting; Rome Jewish museum to open late". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 26 May 2014.