45 suspected in Amsterdam violence probe: Dutch police

Dutch police said Sunday they were probing 45 people for violent crimes in relation to unrest surrounding an Amsterdam football match involving an Israeli team last week, with nine of them already identified and arrested.

“Because of the seriousness of the crimes, but also because of the social impact, we immediately scaled up to a special investigation team,” Dutch police chief Janny Knol said in a statement.

Police are “looking at all crimes committed in the run-up to the game and in its aftermath,” Knol said after violence in the Dutch capital on November 7 shook the country, resulting in several protests and a near-government collapse.

The number of suspects is expected to increase “based in part on the analysis of a large amount of footage,” police added.

Tensions were high before last week’s football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local Ajax team after Israeli fans chanted anti-Arab slogans, vandalized a taxi and burnt a Palestinian flag in Amsterdam’s main square, according to police reports.

Following the match, Israeli fans were targeted in “hit-and-run” attacks by men on scooters. Police said the attackers were spurred by calls on social media to attack Jews.

Five Maccabi fans were briefly hospitalized in the violence that sparked outrage among Western leaders.

Dutch and Israeli authorities condemned the attacks as “anti-semitic” and called for swift punishment for perpetrators.

“The investigation is in full swing,” Knol said on Sunday.

“It goes without saying, but I think it is good to emphasize that we are looking at all crimes committed in the run-up to the game and in its aftermath. Regardless of who the perpetrator or who the victim was,” Knoll added.

Muslim rights groups condemned the anti-semitism — but pointed out that the violence in Amsterdam was not one-sided.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof last week blamed the violence on people with “migrant backgrounds.”

On Friday night, Schoof’s right-wing government coalition narrowly avoided collapse with crisis talks after a junior minister resigned over alleged racist comments made by cabinet colleagues relating to the attacks against Israeli football fans.

Schoof strongly denied the allegations and tried to allay concerns following emergency talks.

Addressing “the incidents in Amsterdam last week,” Schoof said: “There is a lot of upheaval in the country. It was an emotional week, a heavy week and a lot has been said and a lot happened.”