A soccer game between Dutch and Israeli teams in Amsterdam on Thursday night led to dozens of arrests, in what officials in Israel and the Netherlands described as antisemitic attacks on the fans of the Israeli team.
As of Friday, many details of what happened on Thursday, including the identities and affiliations of those involved in the attacks on fans, are still unclear.
What happened in Amsterdam?
Dutch officials said that attackers had assaulted Israelis, and the Israeli Embassy in the Netherlands said that some victims had been kicked or beaten.
The attacks unfolded over several hours in multiple locations, with many taking place in the hours after the game ended.
Officials said that 62 people had been arrested in connection with the violence and that most had been later released. El Al, an Israeli airline, sent planes to transport Israeli citizens back to Israel.
How many people were hurt?
The total injury count is unclear. Five Israelis were hospitalized with injuries but were later discharged. The police said 20 to 30 people had sustained light injuries.
Who attacked the Israeli fans?
As of Friday, the identities of the attackers remained unclear. The police are investigating whether the attacks were coordinated.
Who are the teams involved?
The clashes followed a Europa League match between rival football teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel and Ajax of the Netherlands.
The two teams maintain friendly relations. The game itself went smoothly, with Ajax winning easily, 5-0.
After the clashes, Maccabi called for its fans to quickly return to Israel.
What happened before the game?
Street disturbances began Wednesday night, a full day before the match, after Maccabi fans began arriving in Amsterdam.
The authorities in Amsterdam said supporters of Maccabi had taken down a Palestinian flag from a building. A video posted to social media and verified by The New York Times shows men removing a Palestinian flag while others nearby shouted anti-Arab chants. One man is heard saying in Hebrew, “The people of Israel live,” while others shout anti-Palestinian chants using expletives.
The police said one taxi had been destroyed and a Palestinian flag burned in the center of town; 10 people were arrested, mostly on charges of disrupting public order.
Late Wednesday night, the police intervened to prevent a confrontation between several hundred Maccabi fans inside a casino and a group — including taxi drivers — that the authorities said had gathered after a social media call.
On Thursday, at another square called Anton de Komplein, which is near the stadium, people protesting the arrival of Maccabi Tel Aviv clashed with the police, leading to dozens of arrests.
Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, had prohibited the protest from happening at the stadium.
What happened after the game?
The Israeli Embassy in the Netherlands said that hundreds of Maccabi fans in Amsterdam had been attacked after the game as they made their way back to their hotels.
“Mobs chanted anti-Israel slogans and proudly shared videos of their violent acts on social media — kicking, beating, even running over Israeli citizens,” the embassy said on social media.
Israel warned its citizens in Amsterdam to avoid wearing Israeli or Jewish symbols, to avoid being in public and to fly back to Israel as soon as possible.
The post What to Know About the Attacks on Israeli Soccer Fans in Amsterdam appeared first on New York Times.
