ROME (VINnews) – Italian authorities have intensified security measures in Rome’s historic Jewish quarter, deploying soldiers to patrol the area around the Great Synagogue following a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across Europe.

The heightened precautions come in response to recent attacks, including an explosion outside a synagogue in Liège, Belgium, on March 9 that damaged the building’s facade and shattered windows but caused no injuries. Belgian officials described the pre-dawn blast as a “despicable antisemitic act” and launched a terrorism investigation.

CBS News correspondent Chris Livesay, reporting from Rome’s Jewish quarter, noted the visible presence of Italian soldiers armed with automatic weapons patrolling the narrow streets. A soldier interviewed by CBS said fewer people have been visiting the neighborhood recently, out of fear of similar violence.

Jewish leaders in Italy reported a dramatic increase in antisemitic attacks. Livia Ottolenghi, president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI), told CBS News there has been a 400% rise in such incidents, citing a recent report from the organization documenting events in 2025. She referenced a recent physical assault in Milan on two young Jewish individuals who required emergency medical treatment.

With Israel actively involved in an expanding regional conflict, European Jewish leaders and security officials have warned of growing risks for retaliatory or copycat attacks on Jewish communities.

The surge in antisemitism has prompted similar responses elsewhere in Europe. Belgium announced plans to deploy soldiers to guard Jewish sites, including synagogues and schools, amid concerns over potential threats linked to the broader Middle East tensions.

Rome’s Jewish quarter, one of Europe’s oldest, features historic sites including the Great Synagogue and Stolpersteine — brass plaques commemorating Holocaust victims embedded in the cobblestones — now patrolled amid the elevated security.