Dozens were arrested and four were detained in attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam

Four people were detained on Saturday in connection with violent clashes in Amsterdam that broke out after a soccer match between Ajax, a local Dutch team, and Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday.

The violence, in which Maccabi fans were chased and attacked, led to police arresting 62 people and imposing a three-day ban on protests in the city.

“It was a hit-and-run,” said Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema. “Football fans were beaten and intimidated, after which the rioters quickly left and fled from the police, who were out in force yesterday.”

Halsema condemned the violence, calling it “an outbreak of anti-Semitism.” Amsterdam police spokeswoman Sara Tillart told the Associated Press it was too early in the investigation to determine whether anyone other than soccer fans had been targeted.

Marijke Stor, a Dutch police spokeswoman, said no one had been charged yet. “When people are released, it doesn’t mean they are no longer a suspect,” Stor said. “Further arrests may of course still be made as the investigation is ongoing.”

Amsterdam's acting police chief, Peter Holla, said in a news conference on Friday that tensions had already been high before the soccer match and hundreds of additional police had been deployed to Amsterdam. Holla said some Israeli fans inflamed tensions by attacking a taxi and a Palestinian flag on Wednesday. There was also a confrontation between pro-Palestinian protesters and Israeli fans before the game, he added.

A video geolocated by NBC News showed fighting near Amsterdam Central Station. NBC News also geolocated another video before or after the game showing Israeli fans tearing down a Palestinian flag and chanting “Death to the Arabs” and “Let the IDF win.” We’re going to screw the Arabs.”

Violence among fans of rival soccer clubs is not uncommon, but Thursday's incident appeared to be more related to the conflict in the Middle East than to sports, NBC News pointed out.

The violence has drawn condemnation from leaders in Europe, Israel and the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared the incident to Kristallnacht, when Nazi mobs launched systematic attacks on Jewish communities across Germany in 1938.

The Israeli government helped citizens organize evacuations from Amsterdam via commercial flights.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that it “condemns anti-Arab chants by Israelis and attacks on the symbolism of the Palestinian flag in Amsterdam.”

A United Nations spokesman said Friday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was shocked by the violence and that he condemned all forms of anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim bigotry.

Amsterdam is home to a large Jewish community and is where Anne Frank and her family hid from Nazi occupiers during World War II.

A report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) earlier this year found that the Jewish population in Europe faces “high levels of anti-Semitism.” In Europe, Muslims are also being exposed to “increasing levels of racism and discrimination,” the agency noted. Both surveys were conducted before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and Israel's military operation in Gaza, but FRA Director Sirpa Rautio said the rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred was being fueled by conflicts in the Middle East.