Amsterdam on Edge: Five Injured, 62 Arrested After Attacks on Israeli Soccer Fans

Amsterdam: Israeli fans and protesters clashed overnight after a soccer match in Amsterdam, leaving five people hospitalized and 62 arrested, police said Friday. Dutch authorities said attackers systematically targeted Israeli fans.

It was t clear how violence began. Dutch and Israeli leers deunced violence as antisemitic. Video also showed Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab slogans in streets at some point.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema told reporters Friday that Dutch counterterror watchdog said re was concrete threat to Israeli soccer fans before game.

Peter Holla, city's acting police chief, said at news conference that fans were “willfully attacked."

Condemnation of violence poured in from Jewish groups. Israel's foreign minister left on an urgent diplomatic trip to Nerlands. Security concerns have shrouded matches with Israeli teams in multiple countries over past year because of global tensions linked to wars in Middle East.

Amsterdam police said in a post on social media platform X that y have started a major investigation into multiple violent incidents. post did t provide furr details about those injured or detained in Thursday night’s violence following Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Authorities said extra police would patrol Amsterdam in coming days, and security will be beefed up at Jewish institutions in city that has a large Jewish community and was home to Jewish World War II diarist Anne Frank and her family as y hid from Nazi occupiers.

Earlier, a statement issued by Dutch capital’s municipality, police and prosecution office said that night “was very turbulent with several incidents of violence aimed at Maccabi supporters'' after antisemitic rioters “actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault m.''

It was t immediately clear when and where violence erupted after match.

“In several places in city, supporters were attacked. police h to intervene several times, protect Israeli supporters and escort m to hotels. Despite massive police presence in city, Israeli supporters have been injured,” Amsterdam statement said.

“This outburst of violence toward Israeli supporters is unacceptable and cant be defended in any way. re is excuse for antisemitic behavior exhibited last night,” it ded.

violence erupted despite a ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration near soccer stium imposed by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, who h feared that clashes would break out between protesters and supporters of Israeli soccer club.

re were also incidents involving fans ahe of match. Dutch brocaster S reported that a Palestinian flag was ripped off a building in center of city and riot police blocked pro-Palestinian supporters trying to march toward Johan Cruyff Arena stium where match was being played.

Israel initially ordered that two planes be sent to Dutch capital to bring Israelis home, but later prime minister's office said it would work on "providing civil aviation solutions for return of our citizens.''

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's office said that “ harsh pictures of assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will t be overlooked," and that Netanyahu "views horrifying incident with utmost gravity." He demanded that Dutch government take “vigorous and swift action" against those involved.

Netanyahu's office ded that he h called for increased security for Jewish community in Nerlands.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X that he followed reports of violence “with horror.”

“Completely unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis. I am in close contact with everyone involved,” he ded, saying that he h spoken to Netanyahu and “emphasized that perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted. It is w quiet in capital.”

Security issues around hosting games against visiting Israeli teams led Belgian soccer federation to decline to st a men’s Nations League game in September. That game against Israel was played in Hungary with fans in stium.

violence in Amsterdam will doubt le to a review of security at upcoming matches involving Israeli teams.

European soccer body UEFA anunced alrey on Monday that Maccabi’s next Europa League match, scheduled in Istanbul on v. 28 against Turkish team Besiktas, would be moved to a yet-to-be-decided neutral venue “following a decision by Turkish authorities.”

Meanwhile, Israel’s national team is scheduled to play France in Paris next Thursday in Nations League.