Riots In Amsterdam After Clashes With Israeli Supporters, Fired Trem

UNSPLASH/ev ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Dozens of people armed with sticks and firecrackers burned trams in Amsterdam. The city faces tensions following last week's violence targeting fans of Israeli football clubs.

Police said the fire was quickly extinguished and antihuru-hara officers cleaned the scene.

Reported by AP, the police said it was not clear who started the riots on Monday, November 11 night. It is not yet known whether it had anything to do with the clashes of Israeli supporters last week.

Tensions in Amsterdam have occurred since five people were hospitalized and dozens have been detained on Thursday after the Tel Aviv-Ajax Maccabi match.

Youths who used scooters and walked to look for Israeli fans, beat and kicked them and then fled to avoid police, according to the mayor of Amsterdam.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations were prohibited by local authorities from gathering outside the stadium. Prior to the match, Maccabi supporters also tore up the Palestinian flag in the building in Amsterdam and shouted anti-Arab slogans on their way to the stadium. There are also reports of Maccabi fans starting the fight.

Earlier, police said four men arrested last week would remain detained while investigations continue.

Two of them are minors, aged 16 and 17 from Amsterdam, respectively. Two other men are from Amsterdam and the nearby city.

Police said they had asked for information from more than 170 witnesses and collected forensic evidence from dozens of witnesses. Prime Minister Dick Schoof said they also examined videos posted on social media.

Reports of antisemitism, vandalism and violence have escalated in Europe since the start of the war in Gaza, and tensions have risen in Amsterdam ahead of Thursday's match.