Dozens of people armed with sticks and firecrackers set fire to a tram in Amsterdam on Monday, police said, as the city faces tensions after violence last week targeting supporters of a soccer club Israeli.
Police said the fire was quickly extinguished and riot officers evacuated the square. Online footage shows people destroying property and lighting firecrackers.
Police said it was unclear who started the unrest and whether it was related to what happened last week. But she noted the tense atmosphere since five people were treated in hospital and dozens more were arrested Thursday after a Maccabi Tel Aviv-Ajax match. Young people on scooters and on foot went looking for Israeli supporters, punching and kicking them, then fleeing to escape the police, according to the mayor of Amsterdam.
Dutch police announced five new arrests on Monday as part of their investigation into earlier violence. The suspects are men aged 18 to 37 and are from Amsterdam or surrounding towns. Four are still in custody; the fifth was released, but remains suspect.
Police previously said four other men arrested last week would remain in custody while investigations continued. Two of them are minors, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old from Amsterdam. The other two men are from Amsterdam and a neighboring city.
Police said they identified more than 170 witnesses and collected forensic evidence from dozens of them. Premier Dick Schoof said they were also looking into videos posted on social media.
Reports of anti-Semitic speech, vandalism and violence have been increasing in Europe since the start of the war in Gaza, and tensions escalated in Amsterdam ahead of Thursday night's match.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators were banned by local authorities from gathering outside the stadium.
Before the match, Maccabi fans also tore a Palestinian flag from a building in Amsterdam and chanted anti-Arab slogans on their way to the stadium. Maccabi fans were also reported to have started fights.
The mayor has banned all protests in the city and declared several parts of Amsterdam risk zones where police can arrest and control anyone. Dozens of people were arrested on Sunday for taking part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central Amsterdam, which had been banned.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited the Netherlands on Friday and offered Israel's help in the police investigation. He met the Dutch prime minister on Saturday and said in a statement that the attacks and demands for passports were “recalling dark periods in history.”
