[EUROPE] Violence in Amsterdam around a Europa League football match between local team Ajax and Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv shocked the globe, amid a backdrop of rising antisemitic and Islamophobic hatred and violence across Europe fueled by the Middle East crisis.
The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, has stated that she was not informed that the match was high-risk, despite the fact that just last week, the Turkish team Beşiktaş relocated their match against Maccabi to a neutral nation due to "provocative actions."
The decision to proceed with the match in Amsterdam has raised questions about the effectiveness of risk assessment protocols for international sporting events. Critics argue that the recent relocation of the Beşiktaş match should have served as a clear warning sign, prompting Dutch authorities to take more stringent precautions. This oversight has led to calls for a comprehensive review of how potential security threats are evaluated and communicated between football governing bodies, local authorities, and law enforcement agencies.
Here's what we know so far about how events occurred - and how politicians responded.
The first instances were reported on Wednesday evening, one day before the match. According to police, Maccabi supporters tore down a Palestinian flag from a building's exterior and burnt it, shouting "fuck you, Palestine," and vandalizing a taxi.
Following a radio call, a group of taxi drivers congregated at a casino on the neighboring Max Euweplein, where some 400 Israeli sympathizers had assembled. Police separated the taxi drivers and took supporters from the casino.
Verified social media videos show Maccabi supporters letting off flares and pyrotechnics while screaming in Hebrew "olé, olé, let the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] win, we will fuck the Arabs" and stating that "no children" remained in Gaza.
Amsterdam has a big Muslim minority and has already authorized over 2,500 rallies against the war in Gaza this year.
The incidents on Wednesday night highlighted the volatile mix of sports fandom and political tensions that can erupt in multicultural cities. Amsterdam, known for its diversity and tolerance, found itself grappling with the spillover effects of the Middle East conflict. The city's large Muslim population, coupled with the presence of visiting Israeli supporters, created a powder keg situation that local authorities struggled to contain. This incident serves as a stark reminder of how global conflicts can manifest in unexpected ways, even in seemingly unrelated contexts like a football match.
There were more fights on Thursday afternoon in central Dam Square, where a big throng of Maccabi supporters had assembled. Police claimed pro-Palestine activists attempted to access the square. There were two arrests made.
Maccabi supporters were caught yelling anti-Arab slurs on their approach to the Johan Cruyff Arena. Police guided the 2,600 supporters to the game and dispersed protestors who defied a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the stadium.
Following the 5-0 victory for Ajax, there were multiple "hit and run" attacks against Maccabi supporters around the city center, according to Halsema. Until around 4 a.m., footage shows masked youngsters on scooters and ebikes searching out, chasing down, and hitting victims, most of whom were wearing Maccabi colors.
Witness statements and pictures of mobile phone message exchanges reveal that some were targeted as Jews and asked to present their passports or confirm their Jewishness. False claims spread, claiming that Maccabi supporters had gone missing or had been held prisoner. Five individuals were hospitalized, while 20 to 30 were lightly hurt.
Footage has also emerged of Maccabi fans outside Amsterdam Central Station lighting off pyrotechnics, yelling anti-Palestine chants, and removing iron scaffolding tubes and wooden boards from a construction site to use as weapons. Other clip shows Maccabi fans racing into the streets, swinging belts.
The escalation of violence following the match exposed the limitations of traditional policing methods in dealing with rapidly evolving, politically charged situations. The use of social media and messaging apps by both aggressors and victims added a new dimension to the chaos, making it challenging for law enforcement to respond effectively. This incident has prompted discussions about the need for more sophisticated crowd control techniques and real-time intelligence gathering to prevent similar outbreaks of violence in the future.
Before and during the match, over 800 police officers arrested 62 people, the majority of whom were charged with public order offenses. Four individuals are still in detention. The first individual arrested for violence following the match after being recognized by CCTV was seized on Saturday.
A partial state of emergency was issued in Amsterdam and the surrounding areas, granting police the authority to conduct random stop-and-search operations. Extra police were called in, security was tightened at Jewish institutions, and protests were forbidden.
At a news conference on Friday, Halsema said the violence "reminds me of pogroms." It is quite detrimental to the city. Jewish culture has been severely endangered. This is an outbreak of antisemitism that I pray never to witness again.
The Holocaust murdered almost 75% of Dutch Jews, the majority of whom lived in Amsterdam, making it the greatest proportion in Western Europe.
The public prosecutor, René de Beukelaer, stated that the probe will focus on antisemitism as a motive. Police were analyzing footage to identify the offenders and social media to see how well the assaults were planned, he added. Officials are also investigating allegations that Israel informed Dutch authorities of anticipated issues.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, stated he was sending two planes with army and medical crews to rescue Israelis, but they never arrived, and Maccabi supporters had to fly home on El Al flights.
Tensions persist throughout the city. Police stated that on Monday night, dozens of individuals brandishing sticks and firecrackers set fire to an empty tram and damaged its windows at the '40-'45 Square in Amsterdam's west. The fire was promptly contained, and no casualties were recorded.
Local TV station AT5 broadcast footage of numerous individuals on the square tossing fireworks, poles, and wooden pallets before riot cops removed the area. Police asked people to stay away from the area and stated riot squads will be present to maintain order.
On Monday, Dutch police reported five fresh arrests in their investigation into the violence that occurred last week. The accused are guys aged 18 to 37 from Amsterdam or nearby areas. Four are still in detention, while the fifth has been freed but remains a suspect.
The ongoing investigation and subsequent arrests underscore the complex nature of policing in the aftermath of such incidents. Law enforcement agencies are faced with the challenge of balancing swift action to maintain public order with the need for thorough, evidence-based investigations. The use of CCTV footage and social media evidence in identifying suspects represents a growing trend in modern policing, but also raises questions about privacy and the potential for misidentification. As the investigation continues, it will likely serve as a case study for law enforcement agencies worldwide on how to handle the aftermath of politically charged violence in urban settings.
Netanyahu decried a "planned antisemitic attack against Israeli citizens," compared the violence to the 1938 death of around 91 Jews in Nazi Germany, calling it as "Kristallnacht on the streets of Amsterdam."
The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, described the events as "an antisemitic pogrom" and "a warning sign for any country that wishes to uphold the values of freedom." The Dutch monarch stated that Jewish people should feel protected in the Netherlands.
"We failed the Jewish community of the Netherlands during the second world war," stated Willem-Alexander, "and last night we failed again". The violence was described as "despicable" and reminiscent of "dark moments in history" by US President Joe Biden.
The Dutch prime minister, Dick Schoof, described it as "shameful," "unacceptable," and a "turning point." He summoned Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, to meet in The Hague, where the two agreed on the importance of combating increasing antisemitism.
Geert Wilders, whose anti-Islam Freedom Party won first place in the most recent Dutch elections but has no formal position in the cabinet, demanded Halsema's resignation in a series of heated social media statements.
There had been a "Jew hunt" in Amsterdam, according to Wilders, who has labeled Islam "an ideology of a retarded culture" and Moroccans "scum." He went further: "Muslims with Palestinian flags hunting down Jews." He promised to "stop and expel Islamic radicals".
The political fallout from the Amsterdam violence has exposed deep-seated tensions within Dutch society and politics. The incident has become a flashpoint for debates about immigration, integration, and the rise of far-right populism in the Netherlands. Wilders' inflammatory rhetoric, while condemned by many, has resonated with a segment of the population concerned about cultural changes and perceived threats to national identity. This polarization presents a significant challenge for Dutch policymakers as they attempt to address the root causes of the violence while maintaining social cohesion in an increasingly diverse society.
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