Five Arrested in Attacks Against Israeli Soccer Supporters

Photo : Reuters

Dutch police arrested five more people on Monday for their alleged involvement in the violent attacks on Israeli football supporters last week. The suspects, aged between 18 and 37, are all residents of the Netherlands, and their arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation into the incidents. This brings the total number of arrests to 68, with 63 suspects having been detained previously.

The attacks, which occurred following a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam, left at least five people injured. The violence, which took place on Friday, was condemned by Dutch authorities and foreign leaders, including Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as antisemitic. Reports suggested that Israeli supporters had been targeted as they were leaving the match, and the incident sparked outrage across the globe.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, speaking at a press conference, strongly denounced the violence, describing it as "shocking and reprehensible." He pledged that the Netherlands would spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The authorities are still piecing together the full details of the events that transpired that night, with police and prosecutors investigating the altercations leading up to and following the attacks.

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The violence erupted after Israeli soccer fans had reportedly chanted anti-Arab slogans and caused public disturbances. It’s been noted that there were earlier altercations involving Maccabi supporters, including an incident on Wednesday where fans attacked a taxi and burned a Palestinian flag in Amsterdam. Additionally, Maccabi supporters disrupted a minute's silence held for the victims of the Valencia floods. However, Prime Minister Schoof made it clear that such actions did not justify the violent attacks on the Israeli supporters later in the week.

In response to the violent incidents, Israel arranged additional flights to bring Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters back home. The Dutch authorities emphasized that while they were aware of the provocative actions by Maccabi fans earlier, these should not excuse the subsequent attacks against innocent individuals.

The incident highlights the growing concern over rising antisemitism in Europe, and Dutch authorities are working to ensure that such violence is dealt with swiftly. The government has also pledged to ramp up efforts to tackle hate crimes and ensure the safety of all communities within the Netherlands.