Dutch police have arrested five additional men in relation to the violence that erupted after a match involving Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam on Thursday night.
The suspects, aged between 18 and 37 and all from the Netherlands, are accused of “public violence against persons” before and after the match against local team Ajax.
Tensions flared again in the city on Monday evening when an empty tram and a police car were set on fire. Reports indicate that some rioters shouted “Free Palestine.”
Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the situation earlier on Monday, calling the “antisemitic attacks against Israelis and Jews” “shocking and reprehensible.”
In response to the unrest, Amsterdam authorities have temporarily banned demonstrations until Thursday. However, a pro-Palestinian protest has been permitted to take place in a park outside the city center. Activists are also pushing for a protest outside Amsterdam City Hall.
The recent violence follows previous incidents where youths on scooters targeted Maccabi supporters in “hit-and-run” attacks after the Europa League match, resulting in five people requiring hospital treatment and others sustaining minor injuries.
These five arrests add to the 63 already made since the outbreak of violence. One of the newly arrested individuals has been released from custody but remains a suspect.
Additional arrests were made following the latest unrest on Monday, though no injuries were reported. Videos circulating on social media show groups of youths dressed in black damaging vehicles in a western suburb, where the tram was attacked on ’40-’45 Square. Footage captured the tram being assaulted with fireworks, shattering its windows.
The fire on the tram was quickly extinguished, and riot police cleared the square while making arrests. A police vehicle was also set ablaze in a separate incident.
Schoof reiterated that the Netherlands would prioritize bringing those responsible for Thursday’s violence to justice.
