On Saturday, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog condemned what he called “violent antisemitism” in the Netherlands after an explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam and an earlier blast and fire at a synagogue in Rotterdam, as Dutch authorities investigate whether the two attacks are connected.

“It is completely unacceptable that the historic Jewish community in the Netherlands — which was devastated by the Holocaust and today is a flourishing center of Jewish life — still faces violent antisemitism,” Herzog said. He urged Dutch authorities to do more to combat antisemitism.

During a press briefing in Rotterdam, Justice and Security Minister David van Weel said that “possible links are being investigated.” He added that the suspected perpetrators appear to be different groups because the suspects in the Rotterdam attack were quickly arrested while the suspects in the Amsterdam explosion are still being sought.

After speaking Saturday with Jewish leaders in the Netherlands, Herzog wrote on X that he stands in solidarity with “our sisters and brothers in the Netherlands,” adding: “We stand by your side against this horrific Jew-hatred.”

The latest incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. Saturday at a Jewish school on Zeelandstraat in Amsterdam-Buitenveldert. Police said two suspects arrived on a motor scooter. One got off, placed an object against the outer wall of the school, and ran back to the scooter before the pair drove away as the device detonated.

The explosion caused limited damage to the building. The suspects fled toward Van Nijenrodeweg and remain at large. Police have asked the public to share security camera, doorbell camera, or dashcam footage that could help identify them.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema described the blast as “a targeted attack against the Jewish community.”

Security cameras captured the placement and detonation of the explosive device, and a video circulating on social media appears to show the explosion followed by a person riding away on a scooter.

The Amsterdam attack followed an earlier explosion at a synagogue on A.B.N. Davidsplein in the Blijdorp district of Rotterdam, also around 3:40 a.m. earlier in the week. An explosive device detonated near the synagogue’s front door, causing a fire that extinguished itself after a short time.

Police arrested four suspects later near another synagogue in Rotterdam. They are two men aged 19, one male aged 18, and a 17-year-old teenager, all from Tilburg. Authorities believe they may have been preparing a second attack.

Authorities are also examining videos circulating online in which an unidentified group claims responsibility for the attacks. Van Weel said the Public Prosecution Service is investigating those claims but that authorities cannot yet confirm their authenticity.

An Iranian group has also claimed responsibility for the attacks online, although Van Weel stated that his ministry is unfamiliar with the organization. “We know that Iran has often hired and deployed criminals in other countries. Whether that is also the case here remains to be seen,” he said.

Images from verified footage of the Amsterdam explosion show the same logo visible in a video linked to the Rotterdam attack, according to NOS. Authorities say they do not know which organization the logo represents.

Local police teams in Amsterdam and Rotterdam are leading the investigations with support from a national unit.

Authorities have also activated a national coordination structure, the Nationale Staf Grootschalig Bijzonder Optreden, to oversee the broader response and coordinate security for Jewish institutions.

Police chief Janny Knol said officers across the Netherlands are on alert. “These are serious events that impact the entire Jewish community, including police officers,” Knol said, adding that investigators are doing everything possible to identify those responsible.

Amsterdam officials met Saturday with members of the city’s Jewish community. Halsema, Van Weel, and Marc Kuipers of the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security attended the meeting, where participants shared concerns and asked questions while authorities explained the investigation and security measures.

“We are monitoring the situation closely and working diligently with national security services,” Halsema said.

Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Zvi Aviner Vapni, visited the synagogue in Rotterdam on Saturday. In a message posted by the Israeli embassy, he said: “It is of extreme importance that we stand firmly against hatred and unconditionally protect the safety of the Jewish community.”

The attacks also drew condemnation from other religious organizations. The Islamitische Stichting Nederland, a Turkish government-linked organization that manages mosques in the country, said it “unequivocally condemns” the incidents and expressed “great horror.”

“The incidents deeply affect the Jewish community and lead to feelings of insecurity,” the organization said. “Violence, intimidation, and hatred against religious communities are unacceptable and undermine our norms and values.”