Emergency measures in Amsterdam over attacks on Israeli football fans after Palestinian flags torn down
Amsterdam’s mayor has announced a raft of emergency measures in the city after “antisemitic” rioters attacked Israeli football supporters – adding that she is “furious” about the events in her city.
Femke Halsema told a news conference: “This is a very dark moment for the city, for which I am deeply ashamed. Antisemitic criminals attacked and assaulted visitors to our city, in hit-and-run actions.”
The emergency measures apply to Amsterdam and the Amstelveen suburbs to its south.
Police will be able to conduct extra searches, and a ban on protests and face coverings is now in place. Buildings that could be targeted will be protected.
Earlier, footage shared on social media showed Maccabi Tel Aviv football supporters tearing down Palestinian flags in central Amsterdam.
Anti-Arab chants could also be heard as large crowds of the Israeli fans shouted: “Let the IDF win, and (expletive) the Arabs,” as they were escorted by police to the stadium.
Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that tensions had been brewing in the city in recent days.
Officers later arrested 62 people in the Dutch capital following the disorder after a football match between Ajax and the Israeli side.
Five people were taken to hospital after the violence as the two sides faced each other at the Johan Cruyff Arena, with Ajax winning 5-0.
Israel initially said it was planning to send military planes to Amsterdam to fly fans home, before later deciding to send two commercial planes instead.
‘An attack on Jews just for being Jews’
In response to the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Tomorrow, 86 years ago, was Kristallnacht – an attack on Jews just for being Jews, on European soil.
“It’s back now – yesterday we saw it on the streets of Amsterdam. This is what happened.”
Other videos show crowds running through the streets and a man being beaten.
Authorities at this morning’s news conference said 10 of the 62 people arrested are still being held by police.
Two of those who remain in custody are minors, they added. The five injured supporters have now left hospital.
A ‘very turbulent’ evening
A statement issued by Amsterdam police and prosecutors said the evening “was very turbulent, with several incidents of violence aimed at Maccabi supporters”.
“In several places in the city, supporters were attacked,” the statement said.
“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.
“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.”
The first arrests took place hours before the game, as Israeli supporters gathered in the city centre.
There were then further arrests at a planned demonstration against the arrival of the Tel Aviv side’s players, and after the match as some targeted Israeli supporters.
Dutch police said they were aware of reports of about a possible hostage situation but had no confirmation it had actually happened. A number of people who were reported missing have now been found, they said.
How the incident unfolded
Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters had gathered in Dam Square in the afternoon before the match, and around 10 people there were arrested for criminal offences including disrupting public disorder, police said.
Meanwhile, a planned pro-Palestinian demonstration took place at the Anton de Komplein square, around a 15-minute walk from the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Local authorities had barred organisers from holding the demonstration at the ground.
Part of this group tried to get to the ground but were stopped by riot police, who were pelted with fireworks, the force said.
Around 30 people were arrested at or near the arena, most of them for disrupting public order and carrying or lighting fireworks, the statement added.
Police said fans left the arena without incident after the match, but clashes were reported in the city centre during the night.
Videos posted on social media showed crowds running through the streets and a man being beaten.
More from Sky News:
Three charged in connection with Liam Payne’s death
How Trump 2.0 will differ from his first presidency
Ugly scenes resurfaced the worst memories of antisemitism in Europe
Alistair Bunkall
@AliBunkallSKY
The scenes in Amsterdam on Thursday night were extremely ugly as Israeli football supporters were chased, beaten and kicked on the floor.
Some videos purportedly show fans being stopped and forced to show their passports.
It resurfaces the worst memories of antisemitism in Europe, especially as it happened around the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, when Nazis unleashed a series of pogroms against Jews in 1938.
Senior Israeli politicians have denounced last night’s violence as an organised pogrom and called on Dutch authorities to arrest those responsible. 62 people have already been detained.
The Dutch prime minister has said the attacks were “completely unacceptable”.
There had been tension earlier in the evening. Videos circulating on social media, verified by Sky News, show Maccabi Tel Aviv fans tearing down Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans before the match.
There are also reports the Israeli supporters booed in the stadium during a minutes silence for the victims of the Valencia floods.
The Israeli military has confirmed it is no longer sending rescue flights to Amsterdam as originally announced by Benjamin Netanyahu, but Israeli carriers have been given permission to fly on Shabbat later tonight, if necessary.
Israel’s new foreign minister, Gideon Saar, is also reportedly en route to the Dutch city to meet officials there.
Reaction and response
Ms Halsema said authorities have decided to start an independent investigation into what unfolded.
Ben Mansford, chief executive of the Israeli football club said: “This was not connected to football … it’s very very sad times given the last year that we’ve had.”
Israel‘s national security ministry urged its citizens in the Dutch city to stay in their hotels, the prime minister’s office added.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was “horrified” by the attacks.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said in a post on X that he had “followed the news from Amsterdam with disgust.”
He added that he was in touch with Mr Netanyahu about the incident and said the city was now “calm”.
On Friday afternoon, Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar met Dutch justice minister David van Weel and far-right leader Geert Wilders to discuss the attacks.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said she is “outraged by last night’s vile attacks” in a post on X.
“I strongly condemn these unacceptable acts,” she added. “Antisemitism has absolutely no place in Europe. And we are determined to fight all forms of hatred.”