World

What we know about violence involving football fans in Amsterdam

Sixty-two people have been arrested in Amsterdam after violence unfolded in the city on Thursday night.

The violence came on the same day Ajax hosted Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.

Sky News has verified the footage below to show how events unfolded.

Three men pull down a Palestinian flag in the city centre
Image:
Three men pull down a Palestinian flag in the city centre

On Thursday morning, a clip was posted on social media showing three men tearing down a Palestinian flag from a residential building somewhere in the city.

Two of the men, dressed in tracksuits, lift the third man so he can remove it from the window, as someone can be heard shouting encouragement in the background.

A man is seen being chased at a tram stop in the city centre
Image:
A man is seen being chased at a tram stop in the city centre

Sometime during the day before the game, another clip was uploaded showing men being attacked and chased at a tram stop. Sky News has geolocated the clip to the city centre.

One man appears to be wearing a traditional keffiyeh scarf and can be seen chasing a number of other men.

Someone is heard shouting “F*** Israel” in English, before a woman shouts: “Hey stop”.

The footage was uploaded with a caption in Hebrew that read: “Watch and enjoy 6 Zionists chased away. Free Palestine.”

Ajax fans inside the Cruyff Arena before kick-off against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Ajax fans inside the Cruyff Arena before kick-off against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday. Pic: Reuters

Footage from the stands at the Cruyff Arena shows Israeli supporters refusing to observe a minute’s silence for the victims of Valencia’s recent flooding before kick-off at 9pm (8pm UK). Chanting can also be heard in the background.

The person who posted the clip claimed “illegal fireworks” were also set off and that the protest was the result of Spain cancelling an arms deal with an Israeli company.

Police escort Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters inside Amsterdam's Centraal station on Thursday evening. Pic: AP
Image:
Police escort Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters inside Amsterdam’s Centraal station on Thursday evening. Pic: AP

After the game, which ended at around 11pm local time, large numbers of Maccabi fans were escorted into the Metro at Amsterdam Centraal station – around five-and-a-half miles away from the stadium.

As police guide them down the escalators, footage shows them singing anti-Arab songs.

Pro-Palestinian protesters march in the suburbs of Amsterdam on Thursday evening
Image:
Pro-Palestinian protesters march in the suburbs of Amsterdam on Thursday evening

At some point on Thursday evening, a pro-Palestine march took place on the outskirts of the city.

Sky News has geolocated social media footage to the Biklmermeer neighbourhood – around five miles south of the city centre.

Men are seen carrying Palestinian flags and flares.

A man shouts: 'I'm not Jewish' as he is attacked in a side street
Image:
A man is seen cowering in a side street shouting ‘I’m not Jewish’ as he is attacked

Another clip from Thursday evening shows a group of men being chased down a side street in the centre of the city.

The men being targeted appear scared and are heard shouting as they are struck by someone out of shot.

One man is seen on the floor repeatedly shouting: “I’m not Jewish!”

Police said 57 people had been held after pro-Palestine demonstrators tried to reach the arena after the match
Image:
Police said 57 people had been held after pro-Palestine demonstrators tried to reach the arena after the match

A second Palestinian flag was pulled down from a building in a clip Sky News has geolocated to the city centre after dark on Thursday.

Crowds of people are seen watching below – with chants of “Ole, Ole” and “f*** you” heard.

Israeli football supporters and Dutch youth clash near Amsterdam Central station, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 8, 2024, in this still image obtained from a social media video. Pic: Reuters/X/iAnnet
Image:
Police arrive at the scene of disorder near Amsterdam Centraal. Pic: Reuters

Two social media videos show fighting near Centraal station on Thursday evening.

In both clips, a large group of hooded men dressed in black are seen running down a main street before blocking traffic and striking people at random.

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