Suspects behind Amsterdam attacks on Israeli soccer fans won’t be charged with terrorism

Prosecutors have ruled out terrorism charges in connection with last month’s violence during the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer match in Amsterdam, Dutch Chief Prosecutor René de Beukelaer tells television station AT5.

Seven suspects are set to appear in court this week in connection with the violence against the Israeli soccer fans. “While some will be charged with antisemitism, Beukelaer says that “from a legal standpoint, there was no terrorism involved,” as it requires an intention to instill fear in a specific group.

The suspects seem to have acted out of “anger, frustration, and sadness over the situation in Israel and Gaza,” but not a desire to cause fear, he says.

Last month, supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv were assaulted in various parts of Amsterdam on November 7, following the soccer team’s loss to local team Ajax.

Israeli officials said 10 Maccabi fans were injured in the violence. Hundreds of other Israelis huddled in their hotels for hours, fearing they could be attacked. Many said that Dutch security forces were nowhere to be found, as Israeli tourists were ambushed by gangs of masked assailants shouting anti-Israel slogans.

Amsterdam’s mayor Femkle Halsema initially described the attacks as a “pogrom,” but later retracted her use of the word, saying that it had been used “in order to discriminate against Moroccan, Muslim residents.”

Before the match, Maccabi fans burned a Palestinian flag, attacked a taxi, and chanted anti-Arab slogans, according to Amsterdam police chief Peter Holla. Footage of the incidents was widely circulated on social media.

Times of Israel Staff contributed to this report.