Trial begins into violence against Israeli football fans in Amsterdam
The trial of five men accused of violence against Israeli football fans in November opened on Wednesday before a court in Amsterdam.
The defendants, aged between 19 and 32, will face a panel of three judges. Two other defendants are due to appear on Thursday. All seven have been charged with acts of violence, according to the Dutch public prosecutor’s office.
On the night of 7 to 8 November, after a Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv, supporters of the Israeli team were chased and beaten in the streets of the Dutch capital. The authorities reported that five people were briefly hospitalised following the attacks, which were described as antisemitic by the Netherlands and other Western countries.
Maccabi supporters charged
According to the police, tensions were high before the match. Anti-Arab slogans were chanted by Israeli supporters, who also vandalised a taxi and burnt a Palestinian flag. Police said they were investigating at least 45 people in connection with the violence.
“Charges have also been brought against Maccabi supporters, who behaved provocatively before the match,” the Dutch public prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
The first to appear before judges on Wednesday is a 19-year-old man from Monnickendam, northeast of Amsterdam. He is accused of committing violence at Ajax’s stadium, the Johan Cruyff Arena, and is alleged to have shouted antisemitic slogans and thrown stones at police.
He is also accused of sharing information about violence and illegal possession of fireworks.
Later on Wednesday, a 22-year-old man from the Eindhoven region in the south of the country will appear to answer the most serious charge in these cases, that of attempted manslaughter. The charge against him relates to assaults committed near Dam Square, the city’s main square.
In addition to the seven defendants appearing this week, at least six other people are facing charges in connection with the violence that took place that evening and in the days that followed. Three of these are minors and their cases will be heard behind closed doors.
Police attend a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Amsterdam. The protest was planned to take place at the Johan Cruyff Arena but was banned by the municipality on security grounds © PHOTO ANP JEROEN JUMELET.
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