A senior police official warned on Tuesday of calls for more riots in Amsterdam after dozens of people armed with sticks and firecrackers set fire to a tram on Monday night, with the city grappling with tensions following last week’s violence targeting fans Israeli football club.
Olivier Dutilh of the Amsterdam police told a court hearing that «we have indications that there are calls for similar» riots in the west of the city.
The streets in the area were relatively quiet in the evening, and the security presence was modest.
Amsterdam’s mayor, police chief and attorney general released a report on Monday describing what happened last week, including new details about the actions of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before the Maccabi Tel Aviv-Ajax soccer match.
Local authorities have not decided to ban the game, but have stepped up security. Local authorities banned pro-Palestinian demonstrators from gathering outside the stadium.
The day before the game, authorities reported incidents and saw social media posts threatening Maccabi fans.
Around midnight, Israeli fans tore down a Palestinian flag from a building in the city center, several took off their seat belts and attacked a taxi, the document said.
Taxi drivers tried to mobilize online in response, focusing on a casino where about 400 Israeli fans had gathered. The police mobilized to avoid a major confrontation.
On the morning of the match, the authorities were «particularly concerned about Maccabi fans and the response of taxi drivers,» the document says.
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema asked the Israeli ambassador to explain to officials in Israel «that it is a sporting event and should not be mixed with politics.»
In the afternoon, posts on social networks intensified and anti-Semitic terms were used.
After Ajax’s 5-0 win over Maccabi, parts of a large group of Maccabi fans «run around with sticks and destroy things,» the document says.
There were also «rioters who moved in small groups, on foot, on scooters or in cars, and quickly attacked Maccabi fans before disappearing,» according to the City Hall timeline.
The police chief said that these incidents had an «anti-Semitic character – there is talk of hunting Jews and people are asked about their nationality.» Then there were rumors of missing people and hostage taking, which turned out to be unfounded.
Police said the fire was quickly extinguished Monday and riot police cleared the square. Images online show people damaging property and setting off firecrackers.
A police vehicle later caught fire in a nearby street, and police said they suspected arson.
Police said it was unclear who started the riots and whether they were connected to what happened last week. Some of the rioters could be heard on videos shared on social media insulting Jews.
Police said they had detained three suspects and appealed for witnesses, including an attack on a cyclist who was beaten as he drove past the riots.
The police noticed the tense atmosphere in the city, as on Thursday after the soccer match, five people were treated in the hospital, and several dozen were detained.
According to Amsterdam’s mayor, youths on scooters and on foot went in search of Israeli fans, punched and kicked them, and then ran to avoid the police.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof met members of Amsterdam’s Jewish community on Tuesday to discuss anti-Semitism following the violence.
Reports of anti-Semitic speech, vandalism and violence have been on the rise in Europe since the start of the Gaza war.
Eight people, aged 16 to 37, from Amsterdam and nearby cities have been detained in an investigation into last week’s violence, police said.
Police said they identified more than 170 witnesses and took forensic evidence from dozens. The prime minister said they are also reviewing videos posted on social media.
The mayor banned all demonstrations in the city and declared several parts of Amsterdam as risk zones where the police can stop and search anyone.
Dozens were detained on Sunday for taking part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the center of Amsterdam, which were banned.
Police broke up a small demonstration in front of Amsterdam’s city hall on Tuesday during a discussion about the riots, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported.
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