We must not turn blind eye to antisemitism, says Dutch king after attacks on Israeli football fans

The Dutch king says Jewish individuals should really feel secure within the Netherlands, after violent assaults in opposition to Israeli soccer followers within the centre of Amsterdam.

Willem-Alexander mentioned “our historical past has taught us how intimidation goes from unhealthy to worse,” including that the nation couldn’t ignore “antisemitic behaviour”.

Youths on scooters had criss-crossed the Dutch capital in “hit-and-run” assaults on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters who have been visiting Amsterdam for a Europa League match, authorities mentioned.

Police mentioned 5 individuals have been handled in hospital and others suffered minor accidents. At the least 62 individuals have been arrested.

“My coronary heart goes out to the victims and to their households right here and in Israel as properly,” Amsterdam’s Mayor Femke Halsema informed a press convention on Friday.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof flew again early from a summit of EU leaders in Budapest the place he mentioned he had been following developments with horror.

“The perpetrators might be tracked down and prosecuted,” he promised.

The violence on Thursday evening was condemned by leaders throughout Europe, the US and Israel. For a lot of, it was particularly surprising approaching the eve of commemorations marking Kristallnacht, the 1938 Nazi pogroms in opposition to German Jews.

Three-quarters of Jewish individuals within the Netherlands have been murdered throughout the Holocaust in World Warfare Two.

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The king alluded to that historical past, saying: “Jews should really feel secure within the Netherlands, all over the place and always. We put our arms round them and won’t allow them to go.”

US President Joe Biden mentioned the assaults “echo darkish moments in historical past when Jews have been persecuted”.

There had already been hassle and a few arrests the evening earlier than Thursday’s match, involving Maccabi followers in addition to pro-Palestinian protesters.

Police chief Peter Holla confirmed there had been incidents “on each side”. Israeli supporters had eliminated a Palestinian flag from a wall and set it alight and attacked a taxi, though there had been no additional hassle till the next evening, he mentioned.

There have been additionally reviews of supporters setting off fireworks. One unverified video confirmed followers happening an escalator chanting anti-Arab slogans.

The Palestinian Ministry of Overseas Affairs condemned “anti-Arab chants” and an “assault on the Palestinian flag,” calling on the Dutch authorities to “shield Palestinians and Arabs” dwelling within the Netherlands.

The nationwide co-ordinator for combating antisemitism within the Netherlands mentioned a line had been crossed and the “readiness to commit such violence was disgusting”.

Mayor Halsema mentioned Dutch counter-terror co-ordinator NCTV had not flagged any concrete risk concerning the recreation itself as there was no animosity between the followers of the 2 golf equipment. There was no hassle on the recreation wherein Ajax inflicted a heavy 5-0 defeat on the visiting crew.

However the unrest spiralled uncontrolled quickly afterwards.

Halsema spoke of followers being “attacked, abused and pelted with fireworks” as they walked from the Johan Cruyff Enviornment to the centre of Amsterdam.

Police initially mentioned it was unclear who had taken half within the riots, though the mayor later spoke of younger males on scooters. She was cautious to not give particulars concerning the ethnic backgrounds of these concerned within the assault, emphasising that it was a part of the police investigation.

A number of movies circulated on social media, with one exhibiting a person being kicked and crushed on the bottom and one other exhibiting somebody being run over. In some unverified movies, individuals might be heard shouting pro-Palestinian slogans.

Two British guests mentioned they got here underneath assault as they tried to assist an Israeli crushed up by individuals on mopeds. Jacob, 33, informed the BBC he noticed “10 individuals stamping and kicking” the person, and that that they had seen “plenty of little gangs chasing individuals”.

Requested whether or not locals had been provoked by a Palestinian flag being torn down within the metropolis, the mayor mentioned what had occurred within the centre of her metropolis had nothing to do with protests concerning the scenario within the Center East.

“I’m deeply ashamed of the behaviour that unfolded,” Halsema informed reporters. “On Telegram [messaging] teams individuals talked of going to search out Jews. It is so horrible I can not discover the phrases for it.”

In an announcement, Telegram mentioned it had closed a gaggle chat on the platform which “might have been linked to the disturbance”. The corporate mentioned it didn’t tolerate “calls to violence” and would cooperate with the Dutch authorities.

The mayor confirmed reviews that taxi drivers had been concerned within the assaults, after the top of the Netherlands’ Central Jewish Committee (CJO) mentioned that they had “moved in teams and cornered their targets”.

Israeli airline El Al mentioned it was working free “rescue flights” to Amsterdam to deliver passengers again to Israel.

On Friday, these flights began arriving again at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport, the place passengers have been swarmed by reporters within the arrival corridor and requested to share their experiences of the violence.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke of a “pogrom” in opposition to Maccabi followers and Israeli residents.

Herzog mentioned on X that he trusted the Dutch authorities would act instantly to “shield, find and rescue all Israelis and Jews underneath assault”.

The violence in Amsterdam has raised questions on safety for Israeli followers elsewhere in Europe.

Israel’s nationwide safety council had urged followers to keep away from a basketball recreation within the Italian metropolis of Bologna on Friday because of the threat of “copycat actions”, although there have been no reviews of violence following the EuroLeague fixture.

In accordance with Italian media, Bologna’s police chief assigned a particular escort to the Israeli gamers for his or her journey to the match, which Virtus Bologna received 84-77.