Brussels Jewish museum reopens four months after anti-Semitic attack

The Brussels Jewish Museum reopened on Sunday with a ceremony at which Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo vowed to continue fighting “terrorism”. French-Algerian Mehdi Nemmouche awaits trial for the anti-Semitic attack that led to its closure in May.

The Brussels Jewish Museum Michel Wal/CC

“We are fighting terrorism and will continue to fight it,” Di Rupo said at the ceremony. “Belgium has strengthened and will strengthen its cooperation with Europe and the international community to fight more effectively against the networks and individuals who are threatening our democracies.”

The museum has been closed since 24 May, when four people – a French woman, a Belgian and two Israelis - were killed by a gunman in a surprise attack.

Nemmouche, who was picked up in Marseille six days later, was handed over to Belgium at the end of July.

It has since emerged that he fought with jihadi groups in Syria and a journalist who was held hostage there says that Nemmouche tortured him.