Wubi News

Israeli football fans attacked in Amsterdam, officials say

2024-11-08 16:00:01

Israeli football fans have faced a series of attacks in the centre of Amsterdam, officials say, with riot police having to intervene several times to protect them.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned "antisemitic attacks" and Israel's military spoke of "severe and violent incidents against Israelis".

Amsterdam's mayor and authorities said that despite a massive police presence, Israeli fans had been injured in several parts of the Dutch capital.

Supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv had travelled to Amsterdam for a Europa League match against Ajax.

Riot police had to put up a security cordon around a bus carrying Israeli supporters

Herzog said on X that he trusted the Dutch authorities would act immediately to "protect, locate and rescue all Israelis and Jews under attack".

Israeli officials urged citizens to remain in their hotels and public broadcaster Kan quoted the foreign ministry as saying it had lost contact with three people.

The US special envoy on antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt, said she was horrified by the attacks in Amsterdam, which were "terribly reminiscent of a classic pogrom" and that she was deeply disturbed by how long they had lasted.

She pointed out that the violence had taken place two days before the anniversary of the Nazi pogrom against Jews in Germany in November 1938.

The Dutch co-ordinator against antisemitism said that images on the eve of the 1938 commemorations were both "horrific and shameful".