Israeli football fans were sought out by “criminals on scooters” in Amsterdam and subjected to a series of anti-Semitic ‘hit and run’ attacks, the city’s mayor has revealed.
Supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv were targeted in the centre of the city, with videos circulating on social media showing one man being kicked and beaten and another showing someone being run over. In some videos, people could be heard shouting pro-Palestinian slogans.
Dutch police said five supporters were taken to hospital with injuries before being discharged, with another “20 to 30” Maccabi fans “lightly” injured.
Riot police had to intervene several times to protect the fans, with at least 62 people arrested .
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema described the events as a “black night and a dark day” and added: “It’s against everything we’re proud of in Amsterdam. I’m very ashamed of the behaviour that was shown last night. This is nothing like Amsterdam.”
She said “Anti-Semitic criminals attacked Jewish visitors,” describing how men on scooters were searching for Maccabi supporters.
“It was hit and run,” she told a press conference, adding that the attacks brought to mind pogroms against Jews in Dutch and European history.
She said emergency measures had now been brought in, allowing police to carry out searches, banning demonstrations and prohibiting face coverings.
Asked by a reporter if she plans to take any action regarding “these boys on scooters who seem to be Moroccan-Dutch people,” she said she couldn’t comment specifically on the ethnicity and nationality of these individuals as there was an ongoing investigation.
Amsterdam police chief Peter Holla said the events of the past 36 hours had “really shocked” him, but stressed several supporters who were thought to be missing had now been found and had been in touch with their families.
A statement issued by the Dutch capital’s municipality, police and prosecution office said the night after the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv match at the Johan Cruyff Arena “was very turbulent with several incidents of violence aimed at Maccabi supporters.
“In several places in the city, supporters were attacked. The police had to intervene several times, protect Israeli supporters and escort them to hotels. Despite the massive police presence in the city, Israeli supporters have been injured,” the Amsterdam statement said.
“This outburst of violence toward Israeli supporters is unacceptable and cannot be defended in any way. There is no excuse for the antisemitic behaviour exhibited last night by rioters who actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them,” it added.
Authorities said extra police would patrol the city in coming days and security will be beefed up at Jewish institutions in the city that has a large Jewish community and was home to Jewish Second World War diarist Anne Frank and her family as they hid from Nazi occupiers.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is heading to the Netherlands for an “urgent diplomatic visit”, according to reports, after he described the incidents as “a blaring alarm call for Europe and the world”.
“Freedom loving countries, democracies, cannot allow unbridled hatred to roam the streets with impunity. As history has shown - what begins with persecution and violence against Jews never ends with the Jews,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially said two “rescue planes” were being sent to Amsterdam to bring home the fans.
His office later said the rescue flights plan had been cancelled and Israeli citizens would instead return home via civilian airlines. An El Al aircraft could be seen at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Friday morning amid a tight security operation.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he had followed developments with horror, adding that he had spoken to Mr Netanyahu and pledged that the “perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted”.
“I followed the news from Amsterdam with disgust,” he said in a post on X.
“I am in close contact with all parties involved and have just spoken to @IsraeliPM Netanyahu by phone to stress that the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted,” he added.
The Maccabi Tel Aviv fans had travelled to Amsterdam for a Europa League match against Ajax on Thursday night.
There had already been arrests and trouble in Dam Square ahead of the game between Maccabi fans and pro-Palestinian protesters, but the unrest grew after the match.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke of a “pogrom” against Maccabi fans and Israeli citizens.
Israel’s national security ministry also urged its citizens in the Dutch city to stay in their hotel rooms following the attacks.
“Fans who went to see a football game, encountered anti-Semitism and were attacked with unimaginable cruelty just because of their Jewishness and Israeliness,” Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a post on X.
Local police said 62 people had been held after the game as pro-Palestinian demonstrators reportedly tried to reach the Johan Cruyff stadium, even though the city had banned them to protest there.
Police said fans had left the stadium without incidents, but during the night various clashes in the city centre were reported. Amid the trouble, police said Maccabi supporters attacked a taxi and set a Palestinian flag on fire.
Israel’s embassy to the United States shared video of people apparently being attacked in Amsterdam, saying hundreds of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were “ambushed” as they left the stadium.
Amsterdam’s mayor Femke Halsema said authorities were still in the process of determining the full extent of what had happened.
“Despite the massive police deployment in the city, Israeli supporters were injured,” she said in an Instagram post.
A pro-Palestinian rally demonstrating against the Israeli football club’s visit was initially scheduled to take place near the stadium but was relocated by the Amsterdam city council for security reasons.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks.
"Outraged by last night's vile attacks targeting Israeli citizens in Amsterdam," Ms von der Leyen said in a post on X, adding she had discussed the matter with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
"I strongly condemn these unacceptable acts. Antisemitism has absolutely no place in Europe. And we are determined to fight all forms of hatred."
Passions have been running high in the Middle East and abroad since the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 250 hostage, according to Israel.
At least 43,469 Palestinians have been killed and 102,561 others injured in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza in response to the Hamas attack, according to health officials in the enclave.
The Gaza war has sparked protests in support of both sides across Europe and the United States and Arabs and Jews have been attacked.
Anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders, the leader of the largest party in the Dutch government, condemned the reported Amsterdam attacks in a post on X.
“Ashamed that this can happen in The Netherlands. Totally unacceptable,” he said.
