Dutch police announced on Sunday that they were investigating 45 people in connection with the violence. match violence Maccabi Tel-Aviv match in Amsterdam last week, and nine of them have already been identified and arrested.

Number of suspects expected to rise “partly based on the analysis of a large number of images”the police added. “Because of the seriousness of the crimes, but also their social impact, we immediately set up a special investigation team.”explained Dutch police chief Janny Knol, quoted in a statement.

Anti-Semitic” attacks

The police “investigating all crimes committed before and after the match”said Jamy Knol, following the violence that shook the Dutch capital on November 7, leading to several demonstrations and a near-collapse of the coalition government. According to the police, tensions were high before last week’s soccer match between Maccabi Tel-Aviv and local team Ajax. Anti-Arab slogans were chanted by Israeli supporters, who also vandalized a cab and burned a Palestinian flag in Amsterdam’s main square.

After the match, Israeli supporters were attacked by men on scooters. Police said the attackers had been encouraged by calls to attack Jews on social networks. Five Maccabi supporters were briefly hospitalized in the violence, which sparked outrage among Western leaders. The Dutch and Israeli authorities condemned the attacks, describing them as “an act of terrorism”.“anti-Semitic” and called for their perpetrators to be swiftly punished.

“We are interested in all crimes”.

“That goes without saying, but I think it’s worth pointing out that we’re interested in all crimes committed before and after the match. Regardless of the identity of the perpetrator or the victim.”emphasized Jamy Knoll. Muslim rights groups condemned the anti-Semitism, but stressed that the violence in Amsterdam was not one-sided. Last week, Prime Minister Dick Schoof blamed people for the violence. “of immigrant background”.

On Friday evening, Dick Schoof’s right-wing coalition government narrowly avoided collapse after a Secretary of State resigned in protest at what she claimed were racist remarks made by one of her colleagues in cabinet after the violence against Israeli supporters. Dick Schoof strongly denied the allegations and attempted to allay concerns after a crisis meeting.