On Tuesday, Dutch police detained three individuals following the arson of a police car and the vandalism of a city bus. This occurred just days after intense clashes between Israeli soccer fans and the city’s Arab community led to violent episodes and targeted attacks against Israelis.

According to police reports, an investigation was launched after a police vehicle was set on fire at a station, and a public bus was bombarded with stones on Monday night.

A cyclist was violently assaulted, taken off their bike and struck on the head, as stated by the police. When officers attempted to apprehend a suspect, they faced a barrage of stones.

A number of individuals were also arrested for protesting despite a week-long ban on demonstrations imposed due to escalating violence.

Before the soccer match between Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv and local team Ajax last week, Amsterdam’s streets filled with chaos.

After Maccabi fans burned a Palestinian flag and shouted racist chants, violence broke out downtown, with assaults on Israelis, including incidents where individuals were stopped and asked to show their identification.

Global leaders criticized the attacks as antisemitic and compared them to the anti-Jewish violence observed in the 1930s and 40s.

President Biden condemned the antisemitic violence against Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, describing it in a post on X as “appalling” and reminiscent of historical persecutions of Jews.

Supporters of Palestine criticized the inflammatory chants by Maccabi fans referencing deceased children in Gaza, calling it particularly provocative for Amsterdam’s 13% Muslim demographic.

On Monday, four individuals arrested for inciting violence during the initial disturbances appeared in an Amsterdam court. Two minors (ages 16 and 17) face charges for launching fireworks at police and attempting to seriously harm an unidentified man. A 19-year-old Dutch man is accused of throwing stones at a bus, while a 26-year-old local was recorded apparently attacking an elderly man with a belt, according to police.

What triggered the riots?

According to police, the unrest started on Wednesday night, just before the game when Maccabi supporters tore down and set ablaze a Palestinian flag and vandalized a taxi.

A message calling for revenge reportedly circulated in a group chat among some taxi drivers, as revealed by news articles and unverified screenshots shared on social media. One message in particular, viewed by the Wall Street Journal, urged a regrouping after the match for “round two of the Jew hunt.”

A number of taxi drivers gathered at the Holland Casino, where around 400 Maccabi fans had gathered, according to Amsterdam Police Chief Peter Holla.

The New York Times reported that a security guard at the casino was dismissed for sending alerts to others about the presence of Maccabi fans.

Footage on social media appeared to show Maccabi supporters attacking a Muslim taxi driver and another incident where a Maccabi fan was pushed into a canal.

To ensure safety, police escorted Maccabi fans out of the casino, managing to avert more significant clashes until around 3:30 a.m., when calm was restored, according to Holla.

However, this peace did not last long.

On the afternoon of the next day, clashes broke out again in central Dam Square, where a large crowd of Maccabi supporters gathered around 1 p.m., as reported by Holla.

Videos that surfaced on social media depicted Maccabi supporters shouting offensive and racist slogans.

Supporters of a pro-Palestinian cause were seen cheering at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, filling in part of a chant that claimed there are “no schools in Gaza” due to having “no children left.”

During a soccer match in Amsterdam, a pre-planned pro-Palestinian demonstration turned chaotic at Dam Square, as participants called for the game to be canceled in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Following Ajax’s 5-0 victory that evening, tensions escalated in downtown Amsterdam. The police described the violence as “hit and runs.”

Social media platforms were flooded with videos showing assaults against Israelis. One verified clip by Reuters depicted an Israeli being pulled down and kicked while someone shouted, “That’s Palestine. That’s Gaza now you know how it feels.”

Reports indicated that individuals were forcibly removed from taxis, while others were stopped by crowds demanding to verify their passports to identify Israelis. These encounters persisted into Saturday night, as noted by police chief Olivier Dutilh.

Five injured individuals spent the night in the hospital and were discharged on Friday morning.

In the midst of the unrest, there were reports of missing persons, alongside circulating rumors on social media regarding Israeli “hostages.” However, police confirmed by Friday that all missing persons had been found.