Amsterdam mayor orders tightened security after unrests

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema announced on Friday a series of heightened security measures in the Dutch capital for Friday and the weekend, following violent incidents on Thursday night.

At a press conference, Halsema condemned the attacks across the city, describing the night as "dark" and expressing shame over the incidents. "We are proud to be a peaceful and tolerant city. That this happened in Amsterdam, with our history, is intolerable and indigestible. This was a disgrace to the city," she said.

To protect Maccabi fans still in Amsterdam, Halsema issued an emergency decree implementing additional security within the city and nearby suburbs. Measures include increased police presence, preventive search authorizations, a ban on demonstrations over the weekend, and enhanced security for Jewish institutions and other sensitive locations.

Halsema reported that five individuals were hospitalized due to the attacks but were discharged by Friday morning. About 20 others sustained minor injuries.

The violence began Wednesday night when Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters removed a Palestinian flag from a house in central Amsterdam, sparking clashes with pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Tensions escalated on Thursday night during the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, with Israeli fans reportedly pursued and assaulted at various locations around the city.

Halsema noted that Amsterdam deployed 800 police officers on Thursday night, including 200 additional officers called in after midnight and six platoons of riot police. "The number of police officers was not the problem," she explained. "The nature of the rioters' behavior was the problem. Many perpetrators rode through the city on scooters, actively looking for victims," Halsema said, describing the attacks as "a lot of hit-and-run."

A joint statement from the mayor, police, and public prosecutor confirmed that police intervened multiple times to protect Israeli supporters, escorting them safely to hotels. Dutch police have since launched an investigation, arresting 62 individuals connected to the violence.

Meanwhile, King Willem-Alexander expressed shock over the events during a conversation with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, sharing his sentiments in a post on social media platform X. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof also condemned the attacks, assuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that those responsible would be pursued and prosecuted. "It is now quiet in the capital," Schoof wrote on X.

In a statement on X, Netanyahu described the incidents as "horrifying," urging the Dutch government and security forces to act decisively to apprehend those responsible and protect Israeli citizens.

Dutch media reported that Israeli authorities canceled an earlier plan to evacuate Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters by plane, opting instead to schedule additional El Al flights to bring the fans home. On Friday, Dutch police escorted several buses of Israeli soccer fans to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, where six flights departed for Tel Aviv.