Amsterdam Violence result of hooliganism and antisemitism, mayor's report finds

The violence that erupted in Amsterdam last week was sparked by "a toxic cocktail" of hooliganism and antisemitism, according to a detailed report published by the city's mayor.

- Oliver Holmes Jon Henley

The city remains gripped by high tensions after violence flared around a football match last Thursday between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

A senior police officer warned yesterday of the potential for more rioting in Amsterdam after dozens of people armed with sticks and firecrackers set a tram on fire overnight.

In a 12-page letter, Femke Halsema, the city's mayor, provided the most comprehensive account yet of the racist animosity that has engulfed Amsterdam for almost a week.

In her report, produced with Amsterdam's public prosecutor and police, Halsema concluded: "What happened over the past few days was a toxic cocktail of antisemitism, football hooliganism and anger over the war in Palestine and Israel and other parts of the Middle East."

Halsema presented the preliminary findings to an emergency meeting of the city council yesterday. She lamented that "injustice has been done both to Jews in our city as well as people of minorities who sympathise with the Palestinians".