Maccabi/Ajax: Israeli soccer fans attacked in Amsterdam, Israeli authorities say

CNN
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On Friday night, Israeli soccer fans were attacked in a “serious violent incident in Amsterdam,” Israeli authorities said. The government said it was sending planes to evacuate affected citizens.

Hundreds of fans of Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv were “ambushed and attacked in Amsterdam” on Thursday evening as they left the stadium after a Europa League game against Dutch club Ajax, the Israeli embassy in the United States said on social media -Platform X with.

A social media video shared by the embassy showed videos of alleged violence against Maccabi fans.

CNN has not yet been able to verify these videos.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said ten citizens were injured and advised citizens to stay in their hotels.

“The reports give the impression that the situation has calmed down in the last hour,” Sa’ar said.

In a statement from his office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the violence “serious” and said he was ordering the “immediate release of two rescue aircraft” to help Israeli citizens.

The Israeli leader also called on the Dutch authorities to “take decisive and swift action against the rioters and ensure the peace of our citizens.”

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Friday evening that around thirty people had been arrested so far. The statement did not say when these arrests were made or who was arrested.

Maccabi fans were in the Dutch capital ahead of the Europa League game against Ajax on Thursday evening.

A day before the soccer match, Amsterdam police announced that they had increased their presence in the city center on Wednesday evening, citing “tensions” in several areas.

Officers “prevented a confrontation between a group of taxi drivers and a group of visitors coming from the adjacent casino” on Wednesday evening, police said in a statement on X, citing another incident in which a Palestinian flag was displayed in the center of Amsterdam was demolished by unknown perpetrators.

Police also said a demonstration was planned near the stadium on Thursday before the soccer match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

This is a developing story and will be updated.