Police in the Netherlands said Thursday that reports of police brutality against protesters were investigated.

The alleged violence took place on Wednesday night after police detained 281 people who took part a banned pro-Palestinian protest in Amsterdam’s Dam Square.

The police were accused of using physical violence against the protesters.

What the police said

Dutch police released a statement saying there were videos on social media of members of the Mobile Unit “acting against protesters who had just been taken off a bus in the western port area.”

“These protesters were transported to this location after they were earlier arrested in Dam Square for violating the emergency ordinance,” police said.

“The exact reason for the Mobile Unit’s action in this specific video clip is under investigation,” police said, without specifying which footage they were referring to.

AFP news agency said reporters at the protest saw police dragging demonstrators onto waiting buses in central Amsterdam, with some putting up strong resistance.

Footage circulating on social media appeared to show police shouting at protesters and beating them with batons as they were taken off the bus on the outskirts of the city.

The police repress the forbidden protest

Authorities had imposed emergency measures, including a ban on a demonstration, after last week’s violent clashes involving Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters and pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

The city granted an exemption for a protest on Wednesday, but on the condition that it take place on the city’s Westergast grounds outside the center.

However, several hundred demonstrators, wearing Palestinian scarves and chanting slogans, gathered in the city’s famous Dam Square despite the ban.

Last week, violence erupted following a tense build-up at a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam.

Videos on social media, some of which have been verified, showed Israeli fans engaging in acts of provocation, chanting “Death to the Arabs” and “Let the IDF win,” referring to the Israeli military.

Following the violence, Dutch authorities said Israeli fans were specifically targeted in “hit and run” attacks, with footage showing some Israeli fans being chased and beaten on the streets of Amsterdam.

While the incident drew condemnation from Dutch politicians, opposition parties stressed the violence was not one-sided, after Amsterdam police said Maccabi fans attacked a taxi and burned a Palestinian flag.

kb/ab (AFP, Reuters)