Israeli soccer fans attacked in Amsterdam, dozens hurt

Israeli soccer fans have been attacked after a match in Amsterdam, with five people admitted to hospital and 62 arrested, Dutch police say.

It is not clear how the violence began. Dutch and Israeli leaders denounced the violence as anti-Semitic.

Video footage also showed Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab slogans in the streets.

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema told reporters the Dutch counter-terror watchdog said there was no concrete threat to Israeli fans before the game.

Peter Holla, the city's acting police chief, said at the news conference the fans were "wilfully attacked".

He said people on scooters staged "hit-and-run" attacks, making it difficult for police to track them down.

Condemnation of the violence poured in from Jewish groups. Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, flew to Amsterdam and said in a social media post the hatred of Jews is "appearing in place after place after place".

Halsema described the violence as "an eruption of anti-Semitism that we had hoped never again to see in Amsterdam".

Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel vowed to track down and prosecute all the perpetrators.

Security concerns have surrounded matches with Israeli teams in multiple countries over the past year because of global tensions linked to the wars in the Middle East.

The Amsterdam police said in a post on social media platform X they have started a major investigation into multiple violent incidents.

The post did not provide further details about those injured or detained after Thursday night's violence following the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Authorities said extra police would patrol Amsterdam in coming days, and security will be beefed up at Jewish institutions in the city that has a large Jewish community and was home to Jewish World War II diarist Anne Frank and her family as they hid from Nazi occupiers.

A statement issued by the Dutch capital's municipality, police and prosecution office said the night "was very turbulent with several incidents of violence aimed at Maccabi supporters" after anti-Semitic rioters "actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them".

"In several places in the city, supporters were attacked. The police had to intervene several times, protect Israeli supporters and escort them to hotels," the statement said.

"Despite the massive police presence in the city, Israeli supporters have been injured.

"This outburst of violence toward Israeli supporters is unacceptable and cannot be defended in any way. There is no excuse for the anti-Semitic behaviour exhibited last night."

The violence erupted despite a ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the football stadium imposed by Halsema, who feared clashes would break out between protesters and supporters of the Israeli club.

Ahead of the game, video footage also showed large crowds of supporters of the Israeli team chanting anti-Arab slogans.

"Let the IDF win, and f*** the Arabs," the fans chanted, using the acronym of the Israeli military, as they shook their fists.

Israel initially ordered two planes be sent to the Dutch capital to bring the Israelis home but later the prime minister's office said it would work on "providing civil aviation solutions for the return of our citizens".

A statement from Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said "the harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked" and Netanyahu "views the horrifying incident with utmost gravity".

He demanded the Dutch government take "vigorous and swift action" against those involved.

Netanyahu's office added he had called for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.