Of the 63 people detained by authorities in Amsterdam following the attacks on Israeli soccer fans on Thursday night, only four remain in custody, according to reports on Saturday, citing Chief Prosecutor Rene de Beukelaer.
Beukelaer said the authorities aimed to try the suspects in a fast-track hearing, adding that those released are suspected of yelling insults and throwing fireworks.
On Thursday evening, following a Europa League soccer match between Amsterdam’s Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, pro-Palestinian rioters began attacking Maccabi fans while they were on their way back to their hotels.
Footage circulating on social media showed fans being beaten, chased with knives, and targeted by vehicles.
Additionally, some Israelis were reportedly thrown into the Amsterdam canals, and witnesses saw attempted stabbings. Dutch riot police were sent in to respond to the attackers, and Israel permitted El Al to operate on Shabbat to evacuate the remaining Israelis in the Dutch capital.
Pogrom on Thursday evening
“The investigation that we started during the night focuses on suspects who can be seen on the film footage,” De Beukelaer said. “We are also investigating whether there are connections between these suspects and how they came to these violent actions. We are also investigating whether it was organized,” the chief prosecutor said.
Of the 10 who were originally in custody, eight were adults and two were minors, the chief prosecutor said.
The suspects are in custody for public violence against individuals and groups.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof called the attacks “completely unacceptable” and said he was “ashamed about what happened in the Netherlands.” Dutch Party for Freedom founder and leader Geert Wilders said on X/Twitter, “We have become the Gaza of Europe. Muslims with Palestinian flags hunting down Jews. I will NOT accept that. NEVER. The authorities will be held accountable for their failure to protect the Israeli citizens. Never again.”
Following the attacks, newly appointed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar flew to Amsterdam to oversee a rescue flight that brought the Israeli fans home. Sa’ar met with far-right leader Wilders and Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel on Friday afternoon.
I “emphasized that the Netherlands strongly condemns the violence and that there is no place for hatred and antisemitism,” van Weel said on X.
“The perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted.”
Meanwhile, Wilders, who heads the largest party in the Dutch government and is known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, said he had assured Sa’ar of “our common interest to beat antisemitism and Jew hate and that radical Islamic values have no place in a free society.”
Earlier on Friday, Wilders expressed his “anger and shame” over the assaults in a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Schoof also spoke with Netanyahu on Friday.
Mathilda Heller, Shir Perets, Sarah Moskowitz, and Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.