5 injured, 62 arrested after Israeli soccer fans attacked in Amsterdam
CBC
Israel was sending commercial planes to the Netherlands on Friday to bring home Israeli soccer fans after overnight attacks in Amsterdam that officials described as antisemitic, although there was evidence of provocative chanting from Israeli fans.
Videos circulating on social media showed riot police intervening in street clashes, with some attackers shouting anti-Israeli slurs. But some footage also showed Israeli supporters chanting anti-Arab slogans before Thursday evening's match.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were "attacked, abused and pelted with fireworks" and that riot police had to intervene several times to protect them and escort them to hotels.
In a post on social media, Amsterdam police said "five people have been taken to the hospital and 62 individuals have been arrested," without providing specifics on the extent of the injuries, or who had been arrested.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the order to send planes was taken after "a very violent incident" targeting Israeli citizens after the match between Maccabi and Ajax Amsterdam, traditionally identified as a Jewish club.
The Israeli airlines El Al and Arkia announced five flights to Amsterdam.
An eyewitness captured a video verified by Reuters showing a group of men running near Amsterdam central station, chasing and assaulting other men, as police sirens sounded.-
However, another verified video showed Maccabi fans setting off flares and chanting "Ole, ole, let the IDF win," referring to the Israel Defence Forces, followed by derogatory language directed at "Arabs."
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he was "horrified by the antisemitic attacks on Israeli citizens," which he called "completely unacceptable."
Schoof assured Netanyahu by phone that "the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted," he said in a statement on the social media platform X.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, who he said had "expressed deep horror and shock over the criminal acts committed."
Politician Geert Wilders, head of the largest party in the Dutch government, said he was "ashamed that this can happen in the Netherlands."
In a vitriolic post on the social media platform X, he blamed "criminal Muslims" and said they should be deported.
Police said there had been incidents before the match at Johan Cruyff Arena, for which roughly 3,000 Maccabi supporters travelled to Amsterdam.
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