Eight arrests in Amsterdam after Ajax protest turns into riots

Police have arrested eight people in Amsterdam after a protest by Ajax supporters turned violent and led to an attack on a local police station. They are accused of “multiple disturbances of public order,” police said.

According to police, “hundreds of people” gathered on the Leidseplein at around 2:30 p.m. for an announced demonstration against police strikes for a proper early retirement scheme. The strikes led to the cancellation of Ajax's last two games – one against Feyenoord and one against FC Utrecht.

The protesters marched to the city's main station, where they damaged police vehicles and the station itself, police said. They also detonated explosive devices and attacked trams. Riot police intervened and carried out several attacks after supporters ignored requests to leave the building.

The group then dispersed along the Elandsgracht, where “a group of people who describe themselves as supporters of a football club” “confronted bystanders with a frightening situation,” police said. “With this behavior, they disturbed public order and safety to such an extent that unsuspecting residents and tourists felt unsafe on the streets on their Sunday afternoon.”

The city of Amsterdam also criticized the Ajax fans. “It is incredibly sad that these so-called Ajax supporters behaved so badly in our city,” Deputy Mayor Marjolein Moorman told ANP. “This group of so-called fans is doing football and Ajax no favors.”

She was particularly critical of the attack on “trams with unsuspecting passengers” and the vandalism at a police station. “Everyone wants the fun of football to come first, but this behavior shows that unfortunately it cannot be done without the police. But we need the police so urgently for other things,” she said.

Ajax also said that the football club does not support the fans' actions. The club “of course condemns the destruction and the commission of other criminal acts,” a spokesperson told NU.nl.