Amsterdam, Nov 9, (dpa/GNA) – Israeli fans were leaving the Dutch capital Amsterdam on special flights on Saturday, following violent attacks on the fringes of a football match on Thursday evening, the Dutch news agency ANP reported.
Israeli authorities organized four flights for Saturday, when they would usually adhere to the Jewish Sabbath and take a day of rest, the ANP reported, citing the Israeli embassy in The Hague.
It said a total of around 3,000 supporters of the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv had already departed from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, and further flights were planned for Sunday.
The special flights were in response to attacks on Israeli football fans, on the sidelines of a Europa League game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam, which prompted international outrage.
Dutch authorities said the assailants, who were mainly young people, had actively sought out Israelis to attack.
They said around 20 to 30 people were injured, most of whom only slightly. Five people were treated in hospital, but were discharged on Friday.
The Dutch public prosecutor’s office said a total of 63 people were initially detained, but most had since been released, with only four suspects remaining in police custody on Saturday. It said the alleged perpetrators would be prosecuted.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, announced strict security measures to protect Jewish people in Amsterdam.
The Dutch government meanwhile launched an investigation into whether warnings of potential attacks, had been taken seriously enough.
According to the ANP, Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel informed parliament in a letter that the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) had “drawn attention” to the possible consequences of the timing of the football match, in light of the commemoration of the Nazi-led pogroms against Jewish people on November 9, 1938.
The minister said authorities are also investigating whether warnings from Israel, about potential violence had been overlooked.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof, said he would discuss this with the NCTV and the intelligence services before commenting.
The football match was classified as high-risk, in view of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
About 800 police officers were on duty, the Dutch authorities said.
Police said fans of the Israeli club had burned Palestinian flags, and shouted offensive slogans.
However, Halsema emphasized that this was in no way an excuse for the anti-Semitic attacks.
GNA