Serious incidents broke out on Thursday evening in Amsterdam after a Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv. At least ten Israeli fans were injured in several violent attacks across the city.
The attacks, which witnesses said appeared planned, included stabbing attacks and attempted vehicle runovers. Two people still remain unreachable according to the latest reports.
Videos circulating on social media show masked individuals attempting to force entry to hotels where Israeli supporters were staying. Dutch police had to intervene to escort dozens of Maccabi supporters to safety.
A 30-year-old fan, recently returned from a reserve period in Gaza, testified to being knocked down and threatened with a knife. “What I experienced here is no less frightening than in Gaza,” he said.
Faced with the seriousness of the situation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the dispatch of planes to evacuate Israeli nationals from the Netherlands. Dutch authorities have made around thirty arrests.
The match, which ended in a 5-0 victory for Ajax Amsterdam, was completely overshadowed by the post-match violence which shocked both countries.
Belgium
