Tram set on fire as Amsterdam riots rage on

Dozens of individuals armed with sticks and firecrackers caused chaos in Amsterdam on Monday by setting a tram on fire, according to police reports. The incident occurred amidst escalating tensions in the city following violent attacks last week targeting supporters of an Israeli soccer club.

Law enforcement officials managed to quickly extinguish the fire and disperse the crowd of troublemakers. Images circulating online depicted individuals vandalizing property and setting off firecrackers in the area.

Authorities stated that it was unclear who initiated the unrest and whether it was linked to the previous incidents. The atmosphere in Amsterdam has been tense since five people were hospitalized and numerous individuals were arrested last Thursday after a clash during a Maccabi Tel Aviv-Ajax match. Youngsters on scooters and on foot actively sought out Israeli fans, physically assaulting them before fleeing the scene to evade arrest, as reported by Amsterdam’s mayor.

On Monday, Dutch police disclosed that five new suspects had been apprehended in connection with the earlier violence. The individuals in custody, aged between 18 and 37, hail from Amsterdam and its neighboring cities. While four suspects remain detained, the fifth was released but is still under suspicion.

Furthermore, four other men who were arrested last week are being held in custody as the investigation progresses. Among them are two minors, aged 16 and 17, from Amsterdam, along with two adult males from Amsterdam and a nearby municipality.

In response to the escalating tension, Prime Minister Dick Schoof mentioned that over 170 witnesses have been identified, and forensic evidence has been collected from numerous sources. The authorities are also reviewing videos posted on social media platforms.

Reports of antisemitic rhetoric, vandalism, and violent acts have surged across Europe since the onset of the conflict in Gaza, heightening tensions in Amsterdam leading up to the recent match. Pro-Palestinian activists were prohibited from assembling outside the stadium by local authorities. Prior to the game, Maccabi fans reportedly removed a Palestinian flag from a building in Amsterdam while chanting anti-Arab slogans on their way to the stadium. Incidents of Maccabi supporters instigating altercations were also reported.

In response to the escalating situation, the mayor of Amsterdam has prohibited all demonstrations within the city and designated several areas as high-risk zones where law enforcement can conduct stops and checks on individuals. A number of individuals were detained on Sunday for participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central Amsterdam that had been declared unlawful.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar promptly traveled to the Netherlands following the incidents and offered Israel’s assistance in the police investigation. During his meeting with the Dutch prime minister, Saar condemned the attacks and the demands for individuals to display their passports, likening the actions to dark periods in history.