On Monday in Amsterdam, a group of individuals armed with sticks and firecrackers set a tram ablaze, according to local authorities. This incident comes amid rising tensions in the city, particularly following violent clashes that occurred the previous week involving fans of an Israeli soccer club.
The fire was quickly put out, and riot police swiftly cleared the area. Reports circulating on social media depicted scenes of vandalism as well as individuals detonating firecrackers. Authorities have expressed uncertainty regarding the origins of the unrest and its potential link to last week’s events; they noted an increasingly charged atmosphere, especially after five individuals were hospitalized and numerous others apprehended during confrontations tied to a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax. It was reported that groups of young people on scooters and on foot actively sought out Israeli fans, attacking them before dispersing to avoid law enforcement, as pointed out by the mayor of Amsterdam.
In connection with the earlier disturbances, Dutch police revealed they made five additional arrests on Monday. The suspects, aged between 18 and 37, hail from Amsterdam and nearby areas. Four of them remain in custody, while the fifth has been released, though he is still considered a suspect.
Previously, law enforcement officials indicated that four other individuals apprehended during the last week’s events would continue to be detained as investigations proceed. Among these are two minors, aged 16 and 17, who are from Amsterdam. The other two detained individuals also come from Amsterdam and a neighboring city.
Authorities have identified more than 170 witnesses and have collected forensic evidence from a multitude of sources. Prime Minister Dick Schoof mentioned that they are scrutinizing videos shared online as part of the investigation.
Since the commencement of the war in Gaza, there has been an uptick in instances of antisemitic rhetoric, vandalism, and violence throughout Europe. This tension has particularly escalated in Amsterdam in anticipation of the aforementioned match.
Local officials prohibited pro-Palestinian protests from taking place outside the stadium. Prior to the game, Maccabi supporters reportedly vandalized a Palestinian flag attached to a building in Amsterdam, alongside chanting anti-Arab slogans while en route to the stadium. Accounts also surfaced detailing Maccabi fans engaging in physical altercations.
In response to the escalating situation, the mayor has announced a ban on all demonstrations within the city and classified several areas of Amsterdam as risk zones. This designation allows police to stop and search individuals in those zones. Dozens were apprehended on Sunday for participating in a banned pro-Palestinian protest in central Amsterdam.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar traveled to the Netherlands on Friday to extend Israel’s assistance to the ongoing police inquiry. During his meeting with the Dutch prime minister on Saturday, he remarked that the assaults and calls to present identification “echoed dark periods in history.”