Amsterdam police say 5 hospitalized and 62 detained after assaults on Israeli soccer followers | EUROtoday

For free actual time breaking information alerts despatched straight to your inbox signal as much as our breaking information emails

Sign as much as our free breaking information emails

Amsterdam police mentioned Friday that 5 individuals had been hospitalized and 62 arrested after authorities mentioned antisemitic rioters attacked Israeli supporters following a soccer match.

The police mentioned in a publish on X that they’ve began a significant investigation into a number of violent incidents. The publish didn’t present additional particulars about these injured or detained in Thursday evening’s violence.

Earlier, a press release issued by the Dutch capital’s municipality, police and prosecution workplace mentioned that the evening following the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv “was very turbulent with several incidents of violence aimed at Maccabi supporters.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows beneath.

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Rioters “actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them” after a soccer match, Amsterdam authorities mentioned Friday as Israel introduced it was sending planes to the Dutch capital to fly followers residence.

An unknown variety of Israeli supporters had been injured within the Thursday evening violence that was condemned by the leaders of each the Netherlands and Israel as antisemitic.

An announcement issued by the Dutch capital’s municipality, police and prosecution workplace mentioned that the evening following the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv “was very turbulent with several incidents of violence aimed at Maccabi supporters.”

There was no instant phrase on the variety of injured or arrests and it was not instantly clear when and the place violence erupted after the match.

“In several places in the city, supporters were attacked. The police had to intervene several times, protect Israeli supporters and escort them to hotels. Despite the massive police presence in the city, Israeli supporters have been injured,” the Amsterdam assertion mentioned.

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

Authorities mentioned further police would patrol the town in coming days and safety will likely be beefed up at Jewish establishments within the metropolis that has a big Jewish neighborhood and was residence to Jewish World War II diarist Anne Frank and her household as they hid from Nazi occupiers.

The violence erupted regardless of a ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration close to the soccer stadium imposed by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, who had feared that clashes would get away between protesters and supporters of the Israeli soccer membership.

There had been additionally incidents involving followers forward of the match. Dutch broadcaster NOS reported {that a} Palestinian flag was ripped off a constructing within the middle of the town and riot police blocked pro-Palestinian supporters attempting to march towards the Johan Cruyff Arena stadium the place the match was being performed.

Israel ordered that two planes be despatched to the Dutch capital to convey the Israelis residence.

An announcement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned that “the harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked,” and that Netanyahu “views the horrifying incident with utmost gravity.” He demanded that the Dutch government take “vigorous and swift action” against those involved.

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

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X that he followed reports of the violence “with horror.”

“Completely unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis. I am in close contact with everyone involved,” he added, saying that 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 onerous proper nationalist lawmaker whose Party for Freedom received elections within the Netherlands final yr and who’s a staunch ally of Israel, reacted to a video apparently exhibiting a Maccabi fan being surrounded by a number of males.

“Looks like a Jew hunt in the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural scum that attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in our streets. Ashamed that this can happen in The Netherlands. Totally unacceptable,” Wilders mentioned.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, additionally condemned the violence in a publish on the social media platform X.

Ajax received the Europa League match 5-0.