From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
‘Cancer Jews’: Several arrested after tram set ablaze in week’s second Amsterdam riot
Police in Amsterdam have arrested several suspects after dozens of rioters clashed with officers and set a tram car on fire.
Footage from the scene caught at least one of the participants shouting, “Cancer Jews,” indicating that the violence was an extension of attacks perpetrated by Muslim and Arab rioters against Israeli soccer fans over the weekend.
The clip was posted on X by Geert Wilders, a far-right Dutch lawmaker who leads the largest party in parliament.
Another video shows a Palestinian flag hung near one of the main points of friction during the clashes.
Amsterdam vanavond.
Ze roepen “Kankerjoden!”. pic.twitter.com/YlO1lV65DB
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) November 11, 2024
A police spokesman says a tram at the ’40-’45 Square in the west part of Amsterdam had caught fire, likely caused by fireworks thrown at it. The windows of the tram were also shattered.
No one was injured in the incident, as the tram had been empty, the spokesman says.
Footage on local TV station AT5 showed many people on the square throwing fireworks, poles and wooden pallets.
Police urged people to stay away from the square and said riot squads would remain present to restore peace.
דיווחים על מהומות באמסטרדם: קבוצה גדולה של מתפרעים הציתה תחנת טראם וירתה זיקוקים. לפי סרטון שפורסם ברשתות החברתיות, דגל פלסטין הוצב בסמוך לאחד ממוקדי החיכוך @AmichaiStein1 @itamargalit pic.twitter.com/BediytQ7ea
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) November 11, 2024
Police said it was not clear who started tonight’s unrest and whether it was related to what happened last week. But they noted the tense atmosphere since five people were treated in the hospital and dozens detained Thursday following a Maccabi Tel Aviv-Ajax match. Youths on scooters and on foot went in search of Israeli fans, punching and kicking them and then fleeing to evade police, according to Amsterdam’s mayor.
