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More arrests made over attacks on Israeli soccer fans, Dutch police say | World News
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More arrests made over attacks on Israeli soccer fans, Dutch police say | World News

Five more people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, Dutch police said.

Some 63 suspects had already been arrested after the Israeli fans were arrested attacked in the capital of the Netherlands on Thursday after a match between local team Ajax and Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said the Netherlands would focus all efforts on bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“The images and reports for Amsterdam and what we saw this weekend of anti-Semitic attacks against Israelis and Jews are nothing short of shocking and reprehensible,” he said on Monday.

Mr Schoof said police and prosecutors were still piecing together the details of what happened.

Explained: What we know about the violence in Amsterdam

The police broke up the pro-Palestinian protest in Dam Square. Picture: Reuters
Image:
Hundreds of people defied the ban on demonstrations. Picture: Reuters

Youths on scooters and on foot went after the Israeli fans on Thursday, punching and kicking them before fleeing, according to Amsterdam’s mayor.

At least five people were injured in the attacks, which were denounced as anti-Semitic by Dutch authorities and foreign leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A video circulating on social media showed a man being chased down the street with the caption “watch and enjoy six zionists driven out. Free Palestine”.

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Photo: Mizzle Media/Reuters
Photo: Mizzle Media/Reuters
Photo: Mizzle Media/Reuters
Image:
Dutch police patrol after riots in Amsterdam. Photos: Mizzle Media/Reuters

Israel tells citizens not to attend events abroad after violence

Israel sent extra planes to bring Maccabi supporters home following the attacks and he told his citizens not to participate in cultural or sports events abroad this week.

Mr Netanyahu’s office claimed it had information that overseas pro-Palestinian groups were planning to harm Israelis in cities in the Netherlands, Britain, France, Belgium and others.

Three men tear down a Palestinian flag in the city center
Police said 57 people were detained after pro-Palestinian protesters tried to enter the arena after the match
Image:
The images captured Palestinian flags being torn down in the Dutch capital


“We condemn all violence”

Before Thursday’s game, Maccabi fans tore a Palestinian flag from a building in Amsterdam, set fire to another and chanted anti-Arab slogans on their way to the stadium.

“We are very aware of what happened earlier with the Maccabi supporters, but we believe it is of a different category and we also condemn any violence, but this is no excuse for what happened later that night in the attacks on the Jews in Amsterdam said Mr. Schoof.

On Sunday, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were taken away by police during a banned demonstration in the city’s Dam Square.

A three-day ban on demonstrations was imposed on Friday following violence that broke out after the Europa League match on Thursday.

The ban was later extended by another four days until next Thursday.

Photo: Mizzle Media/Reuters
Image:
Photo: Mizzle Media/Reuters

The tram caught fire

It comes as dozens of people armed with sticks and firecrackers set fire to a tram in Amsterdam on Monday, police said.

The fire was quickly extinguished and riot officers cleared the square, the force said.

Police said it was unclear who started the unrest or whether it was related to last week’s violence.