Amsterdam Police Warn of New Calls for Violence After Tram Set on Fire

Police in Amsterdam have warned of new calls for violence in the Netherlands’ capital city after a tram was set on fire this week.

Olivier Dutilh, an Amsterdam police spokesperson, told a court that authorities have “signals that there are calls for similar” disturbances in the city’s western areas.

Tram Set on Fire

Police reported that Monday’s blaze was swiftly contained as riot officers moved in to clear the square. Videos posted online showed individuals vandalizing property and igniting firecrackers. Later, a police vehicle was found torched on a nearby street, with authorities suspecting it was set intentionally.

Police said it remains uncertain who incited the unrest or whether it was connected to events that took place last week. In videos shared on social media, some participants could be heard making antisemitic slurs.

Police reported detaining three suspects and called for witnesses to come forward, particularly those who may have seen a cyclist assaulted while passing through the chaos.

Recent Violence

Authorities described a tense atmosphere in the city following Thursday’s clashes, in which five people were hospitalized and dozens detained after a Maccabi Tel Aviv–Ajax soccer match.

Groups of young people, both on scooters and on foot, reportedly targeted Israeli fans, assaulting them with punches and kicks before fleeing to avoid police, according to Amsterdam’s mayor.

Local authorities barred pro-Palestinian demonstrators from gathering outside the stadium. Before the game, Maccabi fans reportedly tore down a Palestinian flag from a building in Amsterdam and shouted anti-Arab slogans as they headed to the stadium. There were also accounts of Maccabi fans instigating fights.

Dutch police reported five additional arrests Monday in connection with the earlier violence. The suspects, all men aged 18 to 37, are from Amsterdam and nearby areas. Four remain in custody, while the fifth has been released but is still considered a suspect.

Police previously announced that four other men detained last week would remain in custody as the investigation proceeds. Among them are two minors, ages 16 and 17, both from Amsterdam, while the other two are adults from Amsterdam and a nearby town.

Response From Officials

Police reported identifying more than 170 witnesses and gathering forensic evidence from dozens of individuals. Prime Minister Dick Schoof added that authorities are also reviewing videos shared on social media. Schoof met with community leaders Tuesday afternoon for discussions focused on addressing antisemitism.

Incidents of antisemitic rhetoric, vandalism and violence have surged across Europe since the onset of the Gaza conflict, with tensions in Amsterdam intensifying ahead of Thursday night’s game.

Amsterdam’s mayor has imposed a citywide ban on demonstrations and designated multiple areas as high-risk zones, granting police authority to stop and search individuals. On Sunday, dozens were detained for participating in a banned pro-Palestinian demonstration in central Amsterdam.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.