Israel warns of planned attacks at events in countries including UK

Israel has urged its citizens to avoid cultural and sporting events in the UK and some other European countries following the violent attacks in Amsterdam.

A statement issued by Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel had intelligence that pro-Palestinian groups abroad intended to harm its citizens in cities in the Netherlands, Britain, France, Belgium and others.

In response, the UK Government has said it will “not allow cultural and sporting events to be hijacked” and that police and security services were working “to ensure the safety of every community in this country”.

Israel’s National Security Council published a statement online warning that “supporters of terrorism/lone wolf attackers will try to blend into these riots with the goal of carrying out an attack”.

“In the past few days, there have been calls among pro-Palestinian/terrorist-supporter groups to harm Israelis and Jews, under the pretense of demonstrations and protests, taking advantage of mass gatherings (sports and cultural events) to maximize the damage and the media coverage,” it said.

In particular, it warned citizens to avoid the Israeli teams’ upcoming match in Paris on 14 November.

It also advised: “Be extra careful about concealing anything that could identify you as Israeli/Jewish, including when booking taxis/cars through applications.”

A British Government spokesperson said: “There is no place for antisemitism on our streets and we will not allow cultural and sporting events to be hijacked by those who seek to promote hate.

“Those who push this poison – offline and online – will face the full force of the law.

“Police and the security services continue to work to ensure the safety of every community in this country.”

Earlier on Sunday, Dutch police said they took away more than 300 pro-Palestinian protesters who ignored a ban on demonstrations in Amsterdam and detained 50 more following clashes involving Israeli football fans last week.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the capital’s Dam Square, chanting “Free Palestine” and “Amsterdam says no to genocide”, in reference to the Gaza war.

Israel denies allegations of genocide in its more than year-long offensive in Gaza.

After a local court ratified the city council’s ban, police moved in, instructing protesters to leave and rounding up more than 100 of them.

Police said they removed 340 people from the protest area by putting them on buses and dropping them off on the outskirts of the city. Another 50 protesters were detained by the police.

The ban, which authorities extended for another four days until Thursday, has been in place since Friday after attacks on Israeli football supporters following a match between visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam.

At least five people were injured in assaults that Dutch authorities and foreign leaders denounced as antisemitic.

Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands said that 2,000 Israelis were brought home on special flights from Amsterdam following the scenes of violence.

Paris police said on Sunday that 4,000 officers and 1,600 stadium staff will be deployed for the upcoming football match between Israel and France to ensure security in and around the stadium and on public transportation.

With agencies.