MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Mozambique has deployed soldiers on the streets to help keep order following weeks of protests against the ruling party that has been accused of rigging last month's election to extend its 49 years in power.
Mozambique armed forces spokesperson Gen. Omar Saranga made the announcement at a late-night press conference on Thursday, saying the army would support police in keeping order. Soldiers had already been deployed when he made the announcement, Saranga said.
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A barricade burns Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in protests that have engulfed the country after the opposition rejected the results of the country's polls which saw the Frelimo party extend its 58-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Protesters recover from tear gas fired by police in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Police deploy amid opposition protests in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections that saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Protesters disperse as police deploy in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Protesters fill the street as police deploy in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Pedestrians alongside burnt out vehicle Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Mozambique's capital Maputo, in protests that have engulfed the country after the opposition rejected the results of the country's polls which saw the Frelimo party extend its 58-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
A woman walks past a barricade set fire by protesters in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections that saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
A barricade burns Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Mozambique's capital, Maputo,Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in protests that have engulfed the country after the opposition rejected the results of the country's polls which saw the Frelimo party extend its 58-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
A police officer aims his weapon at protesters in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections that saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
The country of 34 million people in southern Africa is on edge, with the presidential palace under heavy guard and security forces constantly patrolling the streets. Many people are locking themselves in their homes.
“In moments like this, with demonstrations taking place in some regions, our role also extends to supporting security forces in maintaining public order and peace,” Saranga said.
Thousands of protesters set fires and barricaded roads in the capital, Maputo, on Thursday in the biggest demonstration since the Oct. 9 election. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets.
The ruling Frelimo party's candidate, Daniel Chapo, was declared the winner of the presidential election two weeks ago, continuing the leftist party's dominance of Mozambican politics since independence from Portugal in 1975.
Opposition parties have accused Frelimo of stuffing ballot boxes and other election fraud, while international observers said there were problems with the vote and it was not free and fair. Frelimo has often been accused of rigging national and local elections to keep power. The Constitutional Council has not yet validated the results of the election, which it must do for them to be recognized.
Current President Filipe Nyusi of Frelimo is stepping down after serving the two terms allowed under the constitution.
Protests began almost immediately after the election, prompting a police crackdown. Police have been accused by rights groups of firing live bullets at peaceful demonstrations and at least 20 people have been killed by security forces, according to international groups. Mozambican rights groups say the death toll is much higher.
Anger also swelled after two senior opposition figures — a lawyer and a party spokesperson — were killed by unidentified gunmen, who ambushed them in their car and fired at least 25 rounds at them, according to their party.
The regional Southern African Development Community has called a special summit for later this month, when Mozambique will be high on the agenda. Neighboring South Africa has closed its main border crossing with Mozambique and heightened security on its side.
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A barricade burns Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in protests that have engulfed the country after the opposition rejected the results of the country's polls which saw the Frelimo party extend its 58-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Protesters recover from tear gas fired by police in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Police deploy amid opposition protests in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections that saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Protesters disperse as police deploy in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Protesters fill the street as police deploy in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Pedestrians alongside burnt out vehicle Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Mozambique's capital Maputo, in protests that have engulfed the country after the opposition rejected the results of the country's polls which saw the Frelimo party extend its 58-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
A woman walks past a barricade set fire by protesters in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections that saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
A barricade burns Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Mozambique's capital, Maputo,Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in protests that have engulfed the country after the opposition rejected the results of the country's polls which saw the Frelimo party extend its 58-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
A police officer aims his weapon at protesters in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections that saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
AMSTERDAM (AP) — Attackers assaulted Israeli fans overnight after a soccer match in Amsterdam, leaving five people hospitalized, Dutch authorities said Friday. Dozens were arrested.
It was not clear how the violence began. Dutch and Israeli leaders denounced the attacks as antisemitic. Video showed Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab slogans in the streets before the game.
Peter Holla, the city’s acting police chief, told a news conference that the fans were “willfully attacked.” He said people on scooters staged “hit-and-run” attacks, making it difficult for police to track them down.
Israel’s foreign minister left urgently for the Netherlands. Israel initially ordered that two planes be sent to bring fans home, but later the prime minister’s office said it would work to help citizens arrange commercial flights.
Security concerns have shrouded matches with Israeli teams in multiple countries over the past year because of global tensions linked to the wars in the Middle East. Ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, Amsterdam authorities had banned a planned pro-Palestinian demonstration near the stadium.
Still, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema told reporters Friday that the Dutch counterterror watchdog said there was no concrete threat to Israeli soccer fans before the game.
Authorities said extra police would patrol Amsterdam in coming days, and security will be beefed up at Jewish institutions in the city that has a large Jewish community and was home to Jewish World War II diarist Anne Frank and her family as they hid from Nazi occupiers.
Friction had been growing in the days before the match. Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that a Palestinian flag was ripped off a building in the center of the city on Wednesday.
Ahead of the game, video also showed large crowds of supporters of the Israeli team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, chanting anti-Arab slogans. “Let the IDF win, and (expletive) the Arabs,” the fans chanted, using the acronym of the Israeli military, as they shook their fists. Maccabi fans have used the same chant during recent matches in Israel. It also showed police pushing several pro-Palestinian protesters away from a Maccabi fan gathering in a square earlier in the day.
It was not immediately clear when and where violence erupted Thursday night.
The Dutch capital’s municipality, police and prosecution office said rioters “actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them in several parts of the city. “The police had to intervene several times, protect Israeli supporters and escort them to hotels.”
It called the violence antisemitic.
Ofek Ziv, a Maccabi fan from the Israeli city of Petah Tikva, said he and a friends were leaving the stadium after the match. Someone — he didn’t see who — threw a rock at him, hitting his head and causing bleeding. He said a group of Arab men began to chase him, before he and his friend quickly got into a taxi, picking up other fans. They took shelter at a hotel.
“I’m very scared, it’s very striking. This shouldn’t happen to anyone, specifically in Amsterdam. Lots of friends were hurt, injured, kidnapped, robbed, and the police didn’t come to help us,” he said.
The Amsterdam police said in a post on social media platform X that they have started a major investigation into multiple violent incidents. More than 60 people were detained, and 10 were still in custody on Friday, according to Amsterdam's public prosecutor, René de Beukelaer.
The Dutch prime minister, Dick Schoof, said, “This is simply antisemitic violence against Israelis,” calling the attacks “downright scandalous and reprehensible.”
After the overnight violence, Israel ordered two planes be sent to the Dutch capital to bring the Israelis home, but later the prime minister’s office said it would work on “providing civil aviation solutions for the return of our citizens.″
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that “the harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked,” and that Netanyahu “views the horrifying incident with utmost gravity.” He demanded that the Dutch government take “vigorous and swift action” against those involved.
Netanyahu’s office added that he had called for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.
Security issues around hosting games against visiting Israeli teams led the Belgian soccer federation to decline to stage a men’s Nations League game in September. That game against Israel was played in Hungary with no fans in the stadium.
The violence in Amsterdam will no doubt lead to a review of security at upcoming matches involving Israeli teams. European soccer body UEFA announced already on Monday that Maccabi’s next Europa League match, scheduled in Istanbul on Nov. 28 against Turkish team Besiktas, would be moved to a yet-to-be-decided neutral venue “following a decision by the Turkish authorities.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s national team is scheduled to play France in Paris on Nov. 14 in the Nations League. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said Thursday that the match would go ahead as planned at the Stade de France just outside the French capital after assurances from police.
“I think that for a symbolic reason we must not yield, we must not give up,” he said, noting that sports fans from around the world came together for the Paris Olympics this year to celebrate the “universal values” of sports.
“We will be uncompromising,” he added. “To touch a Jewish compatriot is to touch the republic.”
Amsterdam's Mayor Femke Halsema, centre, acting Amsterdam police chief Peter Holla, left, and head of the Amsterdam public prosecutor's office René de Beukelaer hold a news conference after Israeli fans and protesters clashed overnight after a soccer match, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday Nov, 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Corder)
In this image taken from video, police stand guard as Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters light flares at the Dam square, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo InterVision)
In this image taken from video, police escort Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters to the metro, after pro-Palestinian supporters marched near the soccer stadium, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo InterVision)
In this image taken from video, police detain a person next to the place where Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters gather ahead of the Europa League soccer match between their team and Ajax, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo InterVision)
In this image taken from video, pro-Palestinian supporters march with Palestinian flags near the Ajax stadium in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo InterVision)
In this image taken from video, police frisk pro-Palestinian supporters near the Ajax stadium in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo InterVision)
In this image taken from video, police detain a man near the Ajax stadium, after pro-Palestinian supporters marched despite a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations near the soccer stadium, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo InterVision)
In this image taken from video, police stand guard forming a line near the Ajax stadium, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo InterVision)
In this image taken from video, police escort Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters to the metro station leading them to the Ajax stadium, after pro-Palestinian supporters marched near the stadium, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo InterVision)
