A trial began Wednesday for five individuals accused of involvement in the violent attacks on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam last month.
The suspects, aged between 19 and 32, face charges including public violence and attempted manslaughter. Two more suspects are set to appear in court on Thursday.
The first suspect to appear in court this morning is Lucas D., a 19-year-old from Monnickendam. Lucas D. is on trial for public violence.
The suspect was part of a group of 100 to 150 individuals dressed in black who allegedly shouted anti-Semitic slogans, ignited fireworks, and hurled stones at police officers. He has been detained for 11 days.
The second suspect to appear in court is a 32-year-old who is of Kurdish descent and has lived in the Netherlands since 2001, Sefa Ö. from Amsterdam. Ö surrendered to police after recognizing himself in surveillance footage.
He is accused of assaulting multiple unidentified individuals, kicking and beating them. One victim was reportedly given a flying kick, another was attacked while on the ground, and a third was knocked into a tram.
The Public Prosecution Service demanded a two-year prison sentence, half of which is conditional.
The third suspect to appear before court is Mohammed B., a 26-year-old Syrian of Palestinian origin who has been living in the Netherlands since 2015. he allegedly chased someone and hit them with a belt and filmed the incident.
The fourth suspect to appear in court is Rachid O., a 26-year-old from Utrecht. He is accused of complicity in public violence.
According to prosecutors, he shared locations of targets with the intent to assault them, using the term “cancer Jews.” He is also charged with group insult and facilitating others to use violence.
The Public Prosecution Service demanded a six-month prison sentence, two months of which are conditional.
The fifth suspect to appear in court is 22-year-old Mahmoud A., an asylum seeker residing in Son en Breugel.
He faces the most serious charge of attempted manslaughter. He is accused of assaulting individuals near Dam Square, including kicking a victim in the head four times. A. is originally from Gaza.
According to his lawyer, A grew up in a Gaza refugee camp. Having experienced significant trauma as a child of war, his mental state may be affected.
The lawyer emphasized the need to investigate A’s mental health to assess his level of culpability. The judges allowed A. to be examined by a psychologist.
The attacks, which occurred on November 8, followed days of escalating tensions between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.
The Israeli supporters were reportedly targeted in various parts of the city, including near the Johan Cruyff Arena and Dam Square.
While Dutch authorities have investigated over 45 individuals in connection with the violence, the focus of the current trial is on the seven suspects facing the most severe charges.
Despite calls from Israeli officials and the Dutch government to classify the attacks as terrorism, prosecutors have opted against this charge. They argue that there is insufficient evidence to prove the intent to instill fear, a key element of a terrorism charge.
The Dutch government is investigating whether Israeli authorities engaged in undue foreign interference following the attacks.
The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) is leading the inquiry, focusing on actions by Israeli officials and reports circulated to Dutch politicians.
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