Violence erupted in Amsterdam after Maccabi Tel Aviv played Ajax in the city. Reuters
Violence erupted in Amsterdam after Maccabi Tel Aviv played Ajax in the city. Reuters
Violence erupted in Amsterdam after Maccabi Tel Aviv played Ajax in the city. Reuters
Violence erupted in Amsterdam after Maccabi Tel Aviv played Ajax in the city. Reuters

Five men convicted for attacks on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam


Tariq Tahir
  • English
  • Arabic

Five men have been convicted for their involvement in violence against Israeli football fans in Amsterdam.

The district court in the Dutch capital found them guilty of a range of crimes, from kicking Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in the street to inciting violence in chat groups.

The heaviest sentence imposed was six months in prison for a man identified as Sefa O, who was convicted of public violence against several people.

Prosecutors said that the 32-year-old played a “leading role” in the violence, and the court was shown images of him kicking a person on the ground, chasing targets and punching people in the head and the body.

Umutcan A, 24, was jailed for a month for assaulting fans and violently ripping a Maccabi scarf from one of them. He was also suspected as being the author of a WhatsApp message calling for a “Jew hunt”.

He was arrested after his photo was shown on TV, which his mother also saw, and said he regrets his actions. “I don't hate Jews at all, I can't tell you why I said that,” he told the Amsterdam District Court.

Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters gathered in Amsterdam. EPA
Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters gathered in Amsterdam. EPA

The Israeli fans came under “hit-and-run” style attacks in the early hours of November 8 after their Europa League match against Dutch giants Ajax.

The violence, which saw five fans taken to hospital, followed two days of skirmishes that also saw Maccabi fans chant anti-Arab songs, vandalise a taxi and burn a Palestinian flag. Images of the attacks went around the world and led to a furious reaction in Israel.

Outlining their case against the accused, prosecutors had said the attacks had “little to do with football” but added that “in this case, there was no evidence of terrorist intent and the violence was not motivated by anti-Semitic sentiment”. “The violence was influenced by the situation in Gaza, not by anti-Semitism,” said the prosecutors.

Police said they were investigating at least 45 people over the violence, including that carried out by fans of the Israeli club.

Another man, identified as Abushabab M., 22, faces the most serious charge of attempted murder but his case has been postponed while he undergoes a psychiatric assessment. He was born in the Gaza Strip and grew up in a war zone, his lawyer told the court, while his client sat sobbing as his case was being heard.

A further six suspects are set to appear at a later stage. Three of these suspects are minors and their cases will be heard behind closed doors.

At an emotionally charged news conference the morning after the riots, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema said the city had been “deeply damaged” by “hateful anti-Semitic rioters”.

But Ms Halsema later said she regretted the parallel she had drawn between the violence and “memories of pogroms”, saying this word had been used as propaganda.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the violence at the time as a “premeditated anti-Semitic attack”.

Lexus LX700h specs

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Volvo ES90 Specs

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Last 10 NBA champions

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Flying

Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.

 

Touring

Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com 

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UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
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May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
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What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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Cryptocurrency Investing  for Dummies – by Kiana Danial 

There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine. 

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WITHIN%20SAND
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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

HOW%20TO%20ACTIVATE%20THE%20GEMINI%20SHORTCUT%20ON%20CHROME%20CANARY
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Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

War and the virus
While you're here
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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The five pillars of Islam

Name: Colm McLoughlin

Country: Galway, Ireland

Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free

Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah

 

SUE%20GRAY'S%20FINDINGS
%3Cp%3E%22Whatever%20the%20initial%20intent%2C%20what%20took%20place%20at%20many%20of%20these%20gatherings%20and%20the%3Cbr%3Eway%20in%20which%20they%20developed%20was%20not%20in%20line%20with%20Covid%20guidance%20at%20the%20time.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22Many%20of%20these%20events%20should%20not%20have%20been%20allowed%20to%20happen.%20It%20is%20also%20the%20case%20that%20some%20of%20the%3Cbr%3Emore%20junior%20civil%20servants%20believed%20that%20their%20involvement%20in%20some%20of%20these%20events%20was%20permitted%20given%20the%20attendance%20of%20senior%20leaders.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22The%20senior%20leadership%20at%20the%20centre%2C%20both%20political%20and%20official%2C%20must%20bear%20responsibility%20for%20this%20culture.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20found%20that%20some%20staff%20had%20witnessed%20or%20been%20subjected%20to%20behaviours%20at%20work%20which%20they%20had%20felt%20concerned%20about%20but%20at%20times%20felt%20unable%20to%20raise%20properly.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20was%20made%20aware%20of%20multiple%20examples%20of%20a%20lack%20of%20respect%20and%20poor%20treatment%20of%20security%20and%20cleaning%20staff.%20This%20was%20unacceptable.%22%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: December 24, 2024, 3:50 PM`