A Jewish library and a Chabad center in the Buenos Aires suburb of La Plata were attacked last week, prompting a counterterrorism investigation by Argentine authorities.
On Thursday night, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the Israeli Literary Center and Max Nordau Library, according to a statement from the center’s board. Several individuals threw a fuel-filled object at the building’s entrance, breaking windows and causing material damage, though the device did not ignite, and no injuries were reported.
The library, a secular educational institution founded in 1912 that promotes Argentine Jewish culture, said it is reinforcing security measures following the incident.
Two attacks in short span raise concern
On Sunday, the Chabad of La Plata was also attacked, according to DAIA, the Argentine Jewish community organization, which condemned both incidents. DAIA did not provide details about the nature of the second attack but said no injuries were reported.
“We are deeply concerned about the recurrence and the short timeframe of these incidents,” the organization said.
Authorities from the Buenos Aires provincial security ministry and a specialized counterterrorism unit are investigating both cases.
Concerns rise amid broader antisemitism
La Plata’s Jewish community numbers around 2,000 people, and its Chabad center has operated for more than 25 years. Argentina is home to the largest Jewish population in Latin America and the sixth-largest in the world, concentrated mainly in Buenos Aires.
“These acts of violence threaten democratic coexistence and the values of respect and pluralism,” La Plata Mayor Julio Alak said. “We will not allow hatred and intolerance to have a place in our city.”
Argentina has experienced some of the deadliest antisemitic attacks in modern history, including the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center, which killed more than 80 people.
The incidents come as Jewish institutions globally remain on high alert following a wave of attacks since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran in February. Several synagogues and Israeli-linked sites in Europe have faced arson attempts, though no injuries were reported.
Argentina has also seen recent domestic incidents, including a viral video last year showing high school students chanting antisemitic slogans during a trip.
Following the La Plata attacks, antisemitic comments circulated on social media posts about the incident, including conspiracy theories and hate speech, according to watchdog groups. Antisemitism watchdogs say false flag allegations have flourished in recent years against Jews and Israel.