Amsterdam police say 5 people have been hospitalized and 62 arrested after attacks on Israeli football fans

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Amsterdam police said Friday that five people were hospitalized and 62 arrested after authorities said anti-Semitic rioters attacked Israeli supporters after a soccer match.

The police announced in a message on X that they have started a major investigation into several violent incidents. The post provided no further details about those injured or arrested in Thursday night’s violence.

Earlier, a statement from the municipality, the police and the public prosecutor’s office of the Dutch capital stated that the evening after the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv “was very turbulent with several incidents of violence against Maccabi supporters.”

The violence was condemned as anti-Semitic by the leaders of both the Netherlands and Israel. Israel announced it would send planes to the Dutch capital to fly fans home.

It was not immediately clear when and where the violence broke out after the match.

“Supporters were attacked in various places in the city. The police had to intervene several times, protecting Israeli supporters and escorting them to hotels. Despite the massive police presence in the city, Israeli supporters were injured,” the Amsterdam statement said.

“This outburst of violence against Israeli supporters is unacceptable and cannot be defended in any way. “There is no excuse for the anti-Semitic behavior exhibited last night by rioters who actively sought out Israeli supporters to target and assault them,” it added.

Authorities said extra police will patrol the city in coming days and security will be beefed up at Jewish institutions in the city, which has a large Jewish community and was home to World War II Jewish diarist Anne Frank and her family when they hid from the Nazi occupiers.

The violence broke out despite a ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the football stadium imposed by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, who feared clashes would break out between demonstrators and supporters of the Israeli football club.

There were also incidents involving fans before the match. Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that a Palestinian flag was torn from a building in the city center and riot police blocked pro-Palestinian supporters who tried to march to the Johan Cruyff Arena stadium where the match was being played.

Israel ordered two planes to be sent to the Dutch capital to bring the Israelis home.

A statement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that “the harsh images of the attack on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked,” and that Netanyahu “regards the horrific incident with the utmost seriousness.” action against those involved.

Netanyahu’s office added that he had called for greater security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X that he followed reports about the violence ‘with horror’.

“Completely unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks on Israelis. I am in close contact with all those involved,” he added, saying he had spoken to Netanyahu and “emphasized that the perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted. It is now quiet in the capital.”

Geert Wilders, the far-right nationalist lawmaker whose Freedom Party won elections in the Netherlands last year and who is a staunch ally of Israel, responded to a video apparently showing a Maccabi fan surrounded by several men.

“It looks like a hunt for Jews in the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural scum who attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in our streets. Ashamed that this can happen in the Netherlands. Totally unacceptable,” said Wilders.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon also condemned the violence in a post on social media platform X.

Ajax won the Europa League match 5-0.

The Associated Press