The metropolis’s mayor mentioned movies of police utilizing violence towards pro-Palestinian protesters “look critical.”
Dutch authorities mentioned they had been trying into experiences of police violence towards pro-Palestinian protesters in Amsterdam after an indication on Wednesday night was forcibly damaged up by officers.
The metropolis’s mayor, Femke Halsema, mentioned photos and movies of police utilizing violence towards protesters circulating on social media “appear critical.”
In a video, which has not been independently verified by Euronews, police are proven beating protesters with batons and shouting at them as they disperse an indication banned by authorities in Dam Square.
Amsterdam police mentioned on X that they had been conscious of the footage and that photos of police appearing with pressure “are all the time disturbing to see”, including that the pictures shall be “weighed and judged”.
“Both incidents are being investigated by the police and the general public prosecutor with the very best precedence,” Mayor Halsema mentioned in a letter to the Amsterdam metropolis council revealed in native media.
He introduced that the investigation will study whether or not the violence was used “in accordance with official directions”.
Tensions stay excessive
Protests in Amsterdam have been banned since final Friday, following a number of days of violence between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soccer followers, culminating in an evening of clashes that sparked reactions from worldwide leaders.
Since then, the town has seen a number of skirmishes, together with riots and one case the place a tram was set on fireplace. On Wednesday, 281 individuals had been arrested and brought by bus to the outskirts of the town after an indication in central Amsterdam.
Halsema mentioned the protest ban was now not “legally tenable” and highlighted the massive variety of police wanted to implement it.
Demonstrations in Amsterdam shall be allowed from Thursday afternoon, though all the metropolis shall be designated as a safety threat and police shall be given intensive powers to cease and search individuals.
The violence within the Dutch capital final week occurred throughout a soccer match between Israeli group Maccabi Tel Aviv towards Ajax Amsterdam.
Amsterdam police mentioned Maccabi followers attacked a taxi and burned a Palestinian flag earlier than the match and had been then chased by teams on scooters.
Five individuals had been handled for accidents in hospital, and the incident drew worldwide condemnation from leaders throughout Europe who described it as “anti-Semitic”.
Police held 4 of 62 individuals in detention and mentioned they had been nonetheless looking for the suspects.
