A tram was set on fire by a mob of people armed with sticks and firecrackers in Amsterdam, police said, amid tensions in the city after violence last week against fans of an Israeli soccer team.
Police said the fire was quickly extinguished and riot officers cleared the square.
Images online showed property damage and people setting off firecrackers; they were reported to be “cancer Jews” chants.
Police said it is unclear whether Monday’s fire was related to incidents from last week or who started it.
They said there had been a tense atmosphere since five people were taken to hospital on Thursday following an Ajax match against Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, where dozens of people were detained.
Youths on scooters and on foot went in search of Israeli fanatics, beating and kicking them and then fleeing to evade police, according to Amsterdam’s mayor.
Amsterdam tram damaged after people armed with sticks and firecrackers set it on fire
Dutch police detain man after riots in Amsterdam as violence continues in city
Tram windows in Amsterdam were smashed during violence, police say it is unclear who started the fire
Dutch police announced five new arrests on Monday as they continue their investigation into that violence.
The suspects are men between the ages of 18 and 37 from Amsterdam or surrounding cities.
Four of them remain detained and a fifth has been released but remains a suspect.
Police said four other men who had been arrested last week would remain in custody as the investigation continues.
Two of those men are minors, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old from Amsterdam.
The other two men are from Amsterdam and a nearby city.
Police said they have identified more than 170 witnesses and taken forensic evidence from dozens.
Premier Dick Schoof said they were also examining videos posted on social media.
Reports of anti-Semitic speech, vandalism and violence have been increasing in Europe since the start of the war in Gaza, and tensions rose in Amsterdam ahead of Thursday night’s game.
Police officers patrol in riot gear on the streets of Amsterdam following more violence.
A man stands next to the tram, whose windows have been smashed during the riots.
Riot police as the mayor of Amsterdam has banned all demonstrations in the city.
Local authorities prohibited pro-Palestinian protesters from gathering outside the stadium.
Before the match, Maccabi fans also tore down a Palestinian flag from a building in Amsterdam and chanted anti-Arab slogans on the way to the stadium.
There were also reports of Maccabi fans starting fights.
The mayor banned all demonstrations in the city and declared several parts of Amsterdam “risk zones” where police can stop and control anyone.
Dozens of people were arrested on Sunday for participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central Amsterdam that had been outlawed.
Newly appointed Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rushed to the Netherlands on Friday and offered Israel’s help in the police investigation.
He met with the Dutch prime minister on Saturday and said in a statement that the attacks and demands to show passports were “reminiscent of dark periods in history.”
Saar told reporters in Jerusalem on Monday that Israel considered the number of arrests over the clashes in Amsterdam last week to be “very low.”
Protesters run with Palestinian flags before the UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Anton de Komplein in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on November 7, 2024.
Hours before the match, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans held a pro-Israel demonstration in the city’s Dam Square.
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans organize pro-Israel demonstration in Dam Square
“The mayor of Amsterdam informed me that a special investigation team had been formed, but I can say that so far the number of arrests is very low,” Saar said.
The Dutch city’s police chief said there had been “incidents on both sides” on Wednesday, 24 hours before the match.
“A Palestinian flag was set on fire at the dam,” he added, referring to Amsterdam’s central square.
In scenes showing the tensions, an unverified video on social media allegedly filmed on Thursday appeared to show some Maccabi fans chanting in Hebrew: ‘May the IDF (army) win!’ We’ll screw the Arabs!’
The Amsterdam scenes were enough to strike fear into other European nations.
Paris police said Sunday that 4,000 officers and 1,600 stadium staff will be deployed for a soccer match between France and Israel to ensure security in and around the stadium and on public transportation.
France and Israel will play a UEFA Nations League match on Thursday that will be attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, the Elysee presidential palace said.
Israel’s National Security Council, in a statement on Sunday, warned citizens abroad to avoid sporting and cultural events, specifically the match in Paris, and to be wary of violent attacks “under the guise of demonstrations.” .