Man Held for Trying to Blow Up Belgian Synagogue

Reuters ^ | June 13, 2003

[sarcasm]

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian police on Friday arrested a man suspected of trying to blow up a synagogue in what could be the latest in a string of anti-Jewish attacks across Europe linked to violence in the Middle East.

Jules Mathieu, a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office, said the man was suspected of having placed five gas bottles in a car and torching it in front of the synagogue in a densely populated area of the southern town of Charleroi.

There was no explosion and the blaze was rapidly put out by firefighters based nearby.

Several synagogues and Jewish buildings in European countries were attacked last year after Israel launched a military offensive on the West Bank in March 2002.

Mathieu would not identify the suspect in Charleroi, but said he was of Moroccan origin and had confessed to setting the car alight. ``It's possible that he has psychological problems, but we have to have experts evaluate him first,'' he said.

The man was due to go before an examining magistrate to be formally charged.

[jehosophat]

>he was of Moroccan origin and had confessed to setting the car alight

Possibly a proponent of the Religion of Peace?

[angkor]

"It's possible that he has psychological problems"

Dementia induced by the koran.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Jules Mathieu, a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office, said the man was suspected of having placed five gas bottles in a car and torching it in front of the synagogue in a densely populated area of the southern town of Charleroi.

I guess this is the Islamic version of burning a cross

[MattinNJ]

Mohammed was the most popular newborn boy's name last year.

[MattinNJ]

Oops. Should read "Mohammed was the most popular newborn boy's name IN BRUSSELS last year." My bad.

[Servant of the Nine]

I didn't think that was a crime in Belgium?

So9

[GoatWorship]

"It's possible that he has psychological problems"

I look forward to the day when that's no longer a valid excuse for trying to kill a butt-load of people.

Stability cannot exist without accountability.

[johniegrad]

Shouldn't that be a "boat-load" of people?