Arrests in Amsterdam after pro-Palestinian activists heckle Maccabi Tel Aviv fans

A tense atmosphere and unrest filled Dam Square in Amsterdam as hundreds of fans for the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv surrounded the National Monument. Around ten individuals were taken into custody for various offenses, like disturbing the peace, before the Dam emptied out around 5:20 p.m., police said. Fireworks were also set off, and rioting broke out when several other groups of people chanted pro-Palestinian slogans at the Israeli fans, an ANP reporter confirmed.

At least two people were initially arrested, but police would not say whether they were fans of the football club, or pro-Palestinian supporters. Police officers and riot police teams formed a close perimeter around the hundreds of Maccabi supporters who showed up, some of whom set off fireworks and flares.

Police officers asked those who went to Dam Square with pro-Palestinian symbols to leave the area, including those who yelled statements, like, "Free Palestine." Several people who attempted to provoke the Israeli fans were escorted away. Many supporters for Maccabi Tel Aviv were frisked by the police, who are present in large numbers on and around the square.

Dam Square is one of the areas in the capital that was designated as a security risk area on Wednesday because of the likelihood of unrest. This means that the police can preventively frisk anyone in a designated location from 1 p.m. through midnight in checks for fireworks, weaponry, face masks, and other items.

Aside from Dam Square, the measure from the mayor’s office, police and prosecutors covered De Wallen, including the Red Light District, as well as Central Station and the area around the Johan Cruyff ArenA, where Maccabi Tel Aviv will play Ajax in a Europa League match at 9 p.m. The metro line and stations between the city center and the stadium also were named in the official order.

During the overnight period covering Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, there were tensions in several parts of the capital, the police confirmed. However, police were not able to determine if this was due to the Ajax-Maccabi match, or a match between AZ Alkmaar and Turkish club Fenerbahçe, or both.

“On the Rokin, a Palestinian flag was pulled from a facade by - currently unknown - persons,” police said in a statement Thursday morning. “On the Max Euweplein, the police prevented a confrontation between a group of taxi drivers and a group of visitors who approached from the adjacent casino. No arrests were made.”

A protest against the Israeli club’s arrival was planned by the group Week 4 Palestine near the Johan Cruijff ArenA. However, the rally has been banned by the city’s leadership. “Violent confrontations are a realistic prospect,” Halsema told Amsterdam broadcaster AT5. This came after Ajax’s hard-core supporters group F-side, had said they would not tolerate the protest.