AMSTERDAM (AFP) – A senior police officer on Tuesday warned of calls for more riots in Amsterdam, after dozens of people armed with sticks and firecrackers set fire to trams on Monday evening, and the city faces tensions in the wake of violence last week that targeted soccer fans. Israeli foot. club.
“We have indications that there are calls for similar disturbances” in the west of the city, Olivier Dutil, of the Amsterdam police, said during a court hearing. The streets in the area were relatively quiet as the evening fell, and the security presence was low.
The mayor of Amsterdam, the police chief and the public prosecutor published a report on Monday summarizing what happened last week, including new details about the actions of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before the soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax.
Local authorities decided not to ban the game, but strengthened security measures. Local authorities prevented pro-Palestinian demonstrators from gathering outside the stadium.
The day before the match, authorities reported incidents and saw social media posts threatening Maccabi fans. The document said that around midnight, Israeli fans tore the Palestinian flag from a building in the city center, and several of them took off their belts and attacked a taxi. Taxi drivers sought to mobilize online in response, stationed themselves at a casino where about 400 Israeli fans had gathered. Police moved to avoid a major confrontation.
The document said that on the morning of the match, authorities were “particularly concerned about Maccabi fans and the reaction of taxi drivers.” The Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, appealed to the Israeli ambassador to officials in Israel to clarify “that the matter is related to a sporting event and should not be mixed with politics.”
In the afternoon, social media posts were heightened and anti-Semitic terms were used. The document said that after Ajax’s 5-0 win over Maccabi, parts of a large group of Maccabi supporters were “running around with sticks and destroying objects”. The city hall schedule stated that there were also “rioters, moving in small groups, on foot, scooter or car, and quickly attacking Maccabi fans before disappearing.”
The police chief said that these events had an “anti-Semitic character – there is talk of persecuting Jews and people are being asked about their nationality.” Then rumors emerged about missing people and hostage-taking, which proved to be unfounded.
Police said the fire was quickly extinguished on Monday and riot police officers evacuated the square. Pictures posted online showed people destroying property and lighting fireworks. Later, a police car burned on a nearby street and police said they suspected arson.
Police said it was not clear who started the disturbance and whether it was related to what happened last week. Some of the rioters can be heard in a video shared on social media using insults against Jewish people.
Police said they arrested three suspects and called witnesses, including an assault on a cyclist who was beaten while passing near the disturbance.
Police noted the tense atmosphere in the city since five people received treatment in hospital and dozens were arrested Thursday after the football match. Young men on motorcycles and on foot went in search of the Israeli fans, punched and kicked them and then fled to avoid the police, according to the mayor of Amsterdam.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof met on Tuesday with members of the Jewish community in Amsterdam to discuss anti-Semitism in the wake of the violence. Reports of anti-Semitic rhetoric, vandalism and violence have increased in Europe since the beginning of the war in Gaza.
Police said that eight people were detained pending investigation into the violence that occurred last week, aged between 16 and 37 years, from Amsterdam and neighboring cities.
Police said they identified more than 170 witnesses and obtained forensic evidence from dozens. The Prime Minister said they are also examining videos posted on social media.
The city mayor banned all demonstrations in the city and declared several parts of Amsterdam danger zones where police can stop and search anyone. Dozens were arrested on Sunday for participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central Amsterdam that was banned.
Police ended a small demonstration Tuesday outside Amsterdam City Hall during a discussion about the unrest, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported.
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Casert reported from Brussels. Mike Corder and Molly Coyle in The Hague contributed.
