Israeli football fans attacked in Amsterdam, officials say

Israeli football fans have faced a series of attacks in the centre of Amsterdam, officials say, with riot police having to intervene several times to protect them.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned “antisemitic attacks” and Israel’s military spoke of “severe and violent incidents against Israelis”.

Amsterdam’s mayor and authorities said that despite a massive police presence, Israeli fans had been injured in several parts of the Dutch capital.

Supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv had travelled to Amsterdam for a Europa League match against Ajax.

Amsterdam police said they had begun an investigation into numerous violent incidents and that 62 people had been arrested.

Five people had been taken to hospital for treatment, police said, and they were aware of reports of a “possible hostage situation” as well as people unaccounted for, but there had been no confirmation of that.

Dick Schoof said he had followed developments with horror, adding that he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and emphasised that the “perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted”.

The national co-ordinator for combating antisemitism in the Netherlands, meanwhile, said a line had been crossed and the “readiness to commit such violence was disgusting”.

The head of the Netherlands’ Central Jewish Committee (CJO) accused taxi drivers of helping to whip up the violence. “They moved in groups and cornered their targets. Videos are circulating of assaults and attempts to run over Israelis,” Chanan Hertzberger said.

Israeli airline El Al said it was operating two “rescue flights” to Amsterdam to bring passengers back to Israel. That was after after Netanyahu cancelled plans to send two military planes.

There had already been arrests and trouble in Dam Square ahead of the match involving Maccabi fans and pro-Palestinian protesters, and there were reports of supporters setting off fireworks and tearing down a Palestinian flag on a nearby street. One unverified video showed fans going down an escalator chanting anti-Arab slogans.

But the unrest grew after the game. Police said it was unclear who had taken part in the riots, telling local media that those involved were wearing dark clothing.

Several videos circulated on social media, with one showing a man being kicked and beaten on the ground and another showing someone being run over. In some videos, people could be heard shouting pro-Palestinian slogans, although the footage has not been verified by the BBC.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke of a “pogrom” against Maccabi fans and Israeli citizens. Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders who leads the biggest party in parliament also spoke of a pogrom, saying “authorities will be held accountable for their failure to protect the Israeli citizens”.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema had earlier sought to prevent trouble by moving pro-Palestinian protesters away from the Johan Cruyff Arena. But Dutch reports said a large group had then tried to head to the stadium, only to be stopped by riot police.

Herzog said on X that he trusted the Dutch authorities would act immediately to “protect, locate and rescue all Israelis and Jews under attack”.

Israeli officials urged citizens to remain in their hotels and public broadcaster Kan quoted the foreign ministry as saying it had lost contact with three people.

The US special envoy on antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt, said she was horrified by the attacks in Amsterdam, which were “terribly reminiscent of a classic pogrom” and that she was deeply disturbed by how long they had lasted.

She pointed out that the violence had taken place two days before the anniversary of the Nazi pogrom against Jews in Germany in November 1938.

The Dutch co-ordinator against antisemitism said that images on the eve of the 1938 commemorations were both “horrific and shameful”.