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Of the 62 arrested, only ten Amsterdam attackers remain in custody – ANP

Of the 62 people who local authorities arrested after the attacks on Israeli football fans on Thursday evening, only ten are still in custody, ANP reported on Saturday, citing senior public prosecutor Rene de Beukelaer.

Beukelaer said authorities planned to bring the 10 suspects to trial soon in an expedited hearing, adding that those released were suspected of insults and throwing fireworks.

“The investigation that we started that night focuses on suspects seen in the footage,” said De Beukelaer. “We are also investigating whether there are connections between these suspects and how these violent acts came about. We are also investigating whether they were organized,” said the senior public prosecutor.

Of the ten detainees, eight are adults and two are minors, said the senior public prosecutor.

The suspects are in custody for public violence against individuals and groups.

Protesters run after Israeli football fans in Amsterdam (Source: REUTERS)

Pogrom on Thursday evening

On Thursday evening, after a Europa League soccer match between Tel Aviv teams Ajax Amsterdam Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv, pro-Palestinian rioters began attacking Maccabi soccer fans as they made their way back to their hotels.

Footage shared on social media showed fans being beaten, chased with knives and attacked by vehicles.

In addition, some Israelis were reportedly thrown into the Amsterdam canals and witnesses saw stabbing attempts. Dutch riot police were dispatched to respond to the attackers and Israel allowed El Al to operate on Shabbat to evacuate the remaining Israelis in Amsterdam.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof called the attacks “completely unacceptable” and said he was “ashamed of what happened in the Netherlands.” Geert Wilders, founder and leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom, said on X/Twitter: “We have become the Gaza Strip of Europe. Muslims with Palestinian flags hunt Jews. I will NOT accept that. NEVER. The authorities will be held accountable for their failure.” Never protect Israeli citizens again.

Mathilda Heller, Shir Perets, Sarah Moskowitz and Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.



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