The Dutch police are investigating 45 suspected people, nine of them identified and arrested, for the acts of violence on November 7, during the Maccabi Tel Aviv match in Amsterdam.
The Dutch police announced this Sunday that they are investigating 45 suspected people, nine of them identified and arrested, in the violence of November 7. On the sidelines of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv match in Amsterdam.
The number of suspects is expected to increase “in part due to the analysis of a large number of images,” police added.
“Due to the seriousness of the violations, but also their social impact, we immediately created a special investigation team,” explained Police Chief Janny Knol, quoted in the press release.
The police are “investigating all crimes committed before and after the match,” said Janny Knol, following the violence that shook the Dutch capital, causing several demonstrations and the near collapse of the government coalition.
According to police, there was great tension before last week’s Europa League soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax. Israeli supporters chanted anti-Arab slogans, vandalized a taxi and burned a Palestinian flag in Amsterdam’s main square.
After the match, Israeli fans were attacked by men on scooters. Police said the attackers had been encouraged on social media to attack Jews.
Five Maccabi fans had to receive hospital treatmenta fact that provoked the indignation of Western leaders.
Dutch and Israeli authorities condemned the attacks described as “anti-Semitic” and called for the perpetrators to be quickly punished.
“It goes without saying, but I think it’s worth highlighting that we are focused on all crimes committed before and after the game, regardless of the identity of the perpetrator or the victim,” Knoll noted.
Muslim rights groups condemned anti-Semitism but stressed that the violence in Amsterdam was not one-sided.
Last week, Premier Dick Schoof blamed the violence on people of “immigrant origins.”
On Friday night, Dick Schoof’s right-wing coalition government narrowly avoided collapse after Dutch Secretary of State for Profits and Customs, Nora Achahbar, resigned in protest over what she called racist comments made by one of his cabinet colleagues, after the Violence against Israeli fans.
The head of government vehemently denied the allegations and sought to calm concerns after a crisis meeting.
Source: Observadora
