Israeli football fans have faced a series of attacks in the centre of Amsterdam, officials say, with riot police having to intervene several times to protect them.Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned "antisemitic attacks" and Israel's military spoke of "severe and violent incidents against Israelis".Amsterdam's mayor and authorities said that despite a massive police presence, Israeli fans had been injured in several parts of the Dutch capital.Supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv had travelled to Amsterdam for a Europa League match against Ajax.Amsterdam police said they had begun an investigation into numerous violent incidents and that 62 people had been arrested.Five people had been taken to hospital for treatment, police said, and they were aware of reports of a "possible hostage situation" as well as people unaccounted for, but there had been no confirmation of that.Dick Schoof said he had followed developments with horror, adding that he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and emphasised that the "perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted".The national co-ordinator for combating antisemitism in the Netherlands, meanwhile, said a line had been crossed and the "readiness to commit such violence was disgusting".The head of the Netherlands' Central Jewish Committee (CJO) accused taxi drivers of helping to whip up the violence. "They moved in groups and cornered their targets.
Videos are circulating of assaults and attempts to run over Israelis," Chanan Hertzberger said.Israeli airline El Al said it was operating two "rescue flights" to Amsterdam to bring passengers back to Israel.
That was after after Netanyahu cancelled plans to send two military planes.There had already been arrests and trouble in Dam Square ahead of the match involving Maccabi fans and pro-Palestinian protesters, and there were reports of supporters setting off fireworks and tearing down a Palestinian flag on a nearby street.
One unverified video showed fans going down an escalator chanting anti-Arab slogans.But the unrest grew after the game.