Geert Wilders says no arrests were made during the Amsterdam pogrom

Dutch authorities say that the "hit and run" nature of the attacks made it very hard to

 Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters demonstrate and light flares as a policeman patrols the area in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (photo credit: Michel Van Bergen/via REUTERS)
Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters demonstrate and light flares as a policeman patrols the area in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video.
(photo credit: Michel Van Bergen/via REUTERS)

Dutch politician and leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV) Geert Wilders said that he was "speechless,"  on X/Twitter, citing Amsterdam Police saying that no one was arrested during the pogrom against Israeli Jews in the Dutch capital on Thursday night.

"I am speechless. Amsterdam Police just confirmed that NO ONE has been arrested during the Islamic Jewhunt in Amsterdam Thursday night.

"All arrests have been made before and during the soccer match and NOT during the pogrom," he wrote.

Dutch police arrested 62 people on Thursday night, but only 10 remain in police custody, according to Chief Prosecutor Rene de Beukelaer, as reported by ANP. 

Amsterdam Police Chief Peter Holla brought in around 800 officers from around the country in preparation for the event, which is "exceptionally large" for Amsterdam standards, according to a report from the Jewish News Syndicate.

He said in a press conference on Friday in Dutch that "it is very difficult for the police to act against these flash moments spread throughout the city. This is despite the great presence of police until late at night.”

 A person is detained by the police as Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters demonstrate in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (credit: Michel Van Bergen/via REUTERS)
A person is detained by the police as Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters demonstrate in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (credit: Michel Van Bergen/via REUTERS)

Authorities investigating if the attack was organized

De Beukelaer stated that the Dutch authorities were trying to speedily try the ten suspects in a fast-tracked hearing. They are in custody for public violence against individuals and groups. 

The chief prosecutor also said that police started the investigation based on who could be seen on security camera footage on Thursday night. He added that police are also investigating "whether there are connections between these suspects and how they came to these violent actions," as well as if the attacks were previously organized.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof promised to use maximum efforts to find every suspect and said that the pogrom was an indication of growing antisemtism in the Netherlands.

He met with newly appointed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Saturday and told him that the Dutch government "was doing everything to ensure that the Jewish community in this country feels safe," according to a post on his X/Twitter account.