Two years jail sought for Amsterdam attacks against Israeli fans

The 22-year-old identified as Sefa O was one of five suspects before an Amsterdam court on charges relating to the chaos in the city following a match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv on November 7.

Maccabi supporters suffered "hit-and-run" attacks in the city centre following calls on social media to target them, prompting allegations from Dutch and Israeli politicians of anti-Semitic motives.

The court saw images of a man alleged to be O kicking a person on the ground, chasing targets, and punching people in the head and the body.

O played a "leading role" in the violence which "had little to do with football", the prosecutor alleged.

However, the prosecutor said: "In this case, there was no evidence of... a terrorist intent and the violence was not motivated by anti-Semitic sentiment."

"The violence was influenced by the situation in Gaza, not by anti-Semitism," said the prosecutor.

The attacks followed two days of skirmishes that also saw Maccabi fans chant anti-Arab songs, vandalise a taxi and burn a Palestinian flag.

Police said they were investigating at least 45 people in connection with the violence, which saw five Maccabi fans briefly hospitalised.
'Provocative behaviour'
O, who sat hunched and looking down at his hands, said he "very much regretted his presence" at the violence and that he wanted "to start a new life" with his family.

"My wife is pregnant. For my family and my parents, I have decided from now on only to hang around with good people," said O, who handed himself into police and has since been in detention.

Prosecutors called for a second suspect, named as Lucas D., to receive a jail sentence of six months for throwing stones at police and illegal possession of fireworks.

He also stands accused of being part of a Snapchat group in which violence was incited against the Israeli fans.

The five men, ranging in age from 19 to 32, are facing a three-judge bench at the Amsterdam District Court in staggered appearances. Two more suspects are to appear on Thursday.

All seven have been charged with public violence.

A further six suspects are set to appear at a later stage.

Three of these suspects are minors and their cases will be heard behind closed doors.

"Charges have also been laid against Maccabi fans, who displayed provocative behaviour before the game," the Dutch Public Prosecution Service said in a statement.

The incident and its aftermath left the freewheeling Dutch capital reeling -- and sparked a debate over polarisation between its various communities.

At the time, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema said the city had been "deeply damaged" by "hateful anti-Semitic rioters" after a night of "unbearable" violence.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the violence at the time as a "premeditated anti-Semitic attack."

The court is expected to hand down its verdict on December 24.