Amsterdam police chief shocked by violent mob attack on Jews after soccer match

Amsterdam constabulary main Peter Holla stated astatine a property convention connected Friday that nan past 36 hours person shocked him.

“Supporters from Israel person knowledgeable anxious moments, person been deliberately attacked and immoderate person been outrageously abused,” he said successful Dutch. “I would for illustration to definitive my sympathy and support for nan injured and each supporters who person felt aliases still consciousness unsafe. Protecting these group is our apical priority, on pinch search down individuals who person been progressive successful nan convulsive incidents.”

Holla said astatine nan conference, held astatine 12:30 p.m. section time, that constabulary had been preparing for weeks up of Ajax Amsterdam’s Europa League shot crippled against Maccabi Tel Aviv. (JNS utilized an English translator of a posted Dutch release.)

Amsterdam constabulary person been connected defender since nan Tel Aviv shot squad came to nan Netherlands for a match. AP

Due to “an announced pro-Palestinian demonstration” and nan commemoration of Kristallnacht, “we anticipated risks to nationalist order,” he said. “We person prepared nan maximum.”

Some 800 officers were brought successful from each complete nan country. “A size of this committedness is exceptionally ample for Amsterdam standards,” he said. That included mobile units, constabulary connected horseback, dogs, scouts, apprehension units, bid and shot units and a “water thrower was fresh astatine nan stadium,” he said.

Still, location were “small upheavals” that went “back and forth” betwixt Maccabi supporters and those of an Istanbul shot team, according to nan constabulary chief.

“A emblem is removed from nan destruction by Maccabi supporters connected nan Rokin. They destruct a taxi. A Palestinian emblem is group connected occurrence connected Dam Square,” he said. “An online telephone for taxi drivers to mobilize appears. The taxi drivers spell to nan Holland Casino wherever location are presently 400 Israeli supporters.” (The Dam is simply a cardinal quadrate successful Amsterdam pinch medieval origins.)

“Police person safely escorted supporters from nan casino out,” he said, pinch constabulary preventing a “major confrontation” betwixt nan groups and bid was restored astatine 3:30 a.m.

On Thursday, a “large group” of Maccabi supporters gathered connected nan Dam astatine 1 p.m. “Opponents person travel to this pinch incidents adjacent nan Dam. You should deliberation of brawls backmost and forth, deed and tally actions and force hunt behavior,” Holla stated. “Heavy fireworks were besides lit connected nan Dam. In general, nan constabulary person been capable to show nan ample groups apart. The instrumentality locomotion pinch 1,000 supporters from Dam Square to Central Station has besides been manageable.”

Anti-Israel protesters demonstrated successful nan quadrate earlier nan shot match. ANP/AFP via Getty Images

Police “escorted” pro-Palestinian protesters to nan objection connected Anton de Komplein successful Amsterdam astatine nan opening of nan evening, according to Holla.

“On arrival, this group divided into mini groups successful hunt of nan confrontation astatine nan arena. The constabulary past had a batch of activity to support groups of opponents separate,” he said. “We were capable to forestall confrontations,” successful portion pinch nan mounted police.

“After nan game, nan outflow went well. The business astir nan stadium was quiet astir 11 p.m. The problems arose later successful nan metropolis center,” he said. “Groups of Maccabi supporters walked done nan metropolis center. Rioters past committed hit-and-run actions aimed astatine Israeli supporters. This results successful a number of superior assaults successful various places successful nan city. The nonstop number is now being investigated.”

“I would for illustration to constituent retired present that it is very difficult for nan constabulary to enactment against these flash moments dispersed passim nan city,” he said. “This is contempt nan awesome beingness of constabulary until precocious astatine night.”

Police decided to stitchery a ample froup of Maccabi protagonist “to protect them,” Holla said. “These supporters person been taken to their hotels by buses. Then bid returned to nan city.”

“What we now cognize astir nan injured: 5 injured were treated successful nan hospital. These group near nan infirmary this morning,” he added. “About 20 to 30 Maccabi supporters pinch insignificant injuries were received successful Amstelveen.”

He added that constabulary person received a batch of questions astir “alleged missing persons from Maccabi supporters, because Israeli families were incapable to scope their neighbors.”

“We person nary accusation that location are kidnappings aliases hostages. We do return signals and reports very earnestly and analyse them,” he said. “A number of supporters who had mislaid has already been located. We telephone connected families to study suspected missing persons to nan police.”

“There are presently nary nationalist bid problems successful nan city,” Holla added. “I tin ideate that Israelis consciousness unsafe. As mentioned, their well-being is our apical priority.”