New arrests over violence after Ajax-Maccabi match

November 12

Dutch police have made five more arrests over the violence which followed a match involving an Israeli football team in Amsterdam on Thursday night.

The five men, all from the Netherlands and aged between 18 and 37, are suspected of “public violence against persons” before and after the Maccabi Tel Aviv match against local team Ajax.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof said earlier on Monday that “antisemitic attacks against Israelis and Jews” were “nothing short of shocking and reprehensible”.

Unrest flared up again in the city on Monday evening when an empty tram was attacked. Some rioters reportedly shouted “Free Palestine”, according to local media.

On Thursday night, youths on scooters criss-crossed the Dutch capital in “hit-and-run” attacks on Maccabi supporters who were visiting for the Europa League match, authorities said.

Five people were treated in hospital and others suffered minor injuries.

The five new arrests come on top of 63 announced by the authorities since the violence. One of the five was released from custody but remains a suspect.

Police also made several arrests after the new unrest in the city on Monday. No injuries were reported.

Dozens of youths dressed in black damaged cars in a western suburb, where the tram was attacked on ’40-’45 Square. Videos posted on social media show a tram being attacked with fireworks and its windows being shattered.

A fire on the tram was quickly extinguished and riot officers cleared the square, making arrests, German broadcaster DW reports.

Schoof promised that the Netherlands would focus on bringing perpetrators of Thursday’s violence to justice.

“The images and reports for Amsterdam and what we’ve seen this weekend of antisemitic attacks against Israelis and Jews are nothing short of shocking and reprehensible,” he told journalists.

He also commented on reports that Maccabi supporters had attacked a taxi and burnt a Palestinian flag in Amsterdam, as well as chanting anti-Arab slogans.

“We are well aware of what happened earlier with Maccabi supporters but we think that’s of a different category and we condemn any violence as well, but that is no excuse whatsoever for what happened later on that night in the attacks on Jews in Amsterdam,” he said.

Pro-Palestinian protests planned in recent days had been banned, angering activists.

Some have argued that they should be free to voice their disapproval of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the actions of the Maccabi supporters. Police chief Peter Holla has said there had been incidents “on both sides” during Thursday’s clashes.

The violence was condemned by leaders across Europe, the US and Israel. For many, it was especially shocking coming on the eve of commemorations marking Kristallnacht, the 1938 Nazi pogroms against German Jews.

Three-quarters of Jewish people in the Netherlands were murdered during the Holocaust in World War Two.

Reports of antisemitic incidents in Europe have risen since the start of the war in Gaza just over a year ago.

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