Several people were administratively arrested in Antwerp following calls on social media to attack Jewish people, the city's police confirmed. Violence against Israeli football fans in Amsterdam last week is thought to have incited the social media calls.
Police Zone Antwerp has in recent days been made aware of alarming calls on social media to attack Jews in the city, inciting violence reminiscent of what happened in the Dutch capital last week. In the investigation into those messages, led by the Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office, six young people were identified.
"One of them, a 17-year-old, was arrested and questioned about the offences," Antwerp police spokesperson Wouter Bruyns said. In response to the various calls for violence, officers also carried out targeted checks, specifically in and around Harmoniepark in the Jewish neighbourhood.
Targeted checks
The police deployed a visible presence and a drone in the neighbourhood. Groups behaving suspiciously were approached by officers, and anyone in possession of flags, balaclavas or other material that could indicate an action or who refused to leave the area risked administrative arrest – a form of detainment that can last under 12 hours, used to avoid a disturbance of public order.
Outgoing Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD) was present at the scene, alongside the Shmira (providing security for the Antwerp Jewish community), which was on standby with about 20 officers. Locals living in the targeted neighbourhood were not told about the calls for attacks to avoid scaremongering.
Five people were administratively arrested during checks throughout the day on Sunday and released again during the evening.
Police again conducted surveillance at various places in the city on Monday 11 November based on more messages inciting violence circulating online. The spreader of those messages has been traced, arrested and questioned, the police said.
During all checks, no incidents occurred.
Amsterdam violence
Van Tigchelt spoke at a Jewish community meeting on Sunday evening to reassure people after the violent incidents in Amsterdam on Thursday night. The violence was perpetrated by "antisemitic hit-and-run squads," according to Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, and is believed to have incited a call for attacks on Jews in Antwerp.
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were in the Dutch capital to attend the Europa League match against Amsterdam club Ajax. Videos on social media showed Maccabi Tel Aviv fans being assaulted, with some attackers shouting anti-Israeli slurs. Riot police intervened to protect them and escort them to hotels. Footage also showed Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters chanting anti-Arab slurs, tearing down Palestinian flags, and causing disturbances.
To avoid similar incidents in Brussels, authorities decided the city would not host the football match between Belgium and Israel in the UEFA Nations League, scheduled for September.
Van Tigchelt told the Jewish community that Belgium's Coordination Body for Threat Assessment (OCAD) pointed to copycat behaviour. He also stressed that the security services are taking the threat seriously.
However, in light of these calls for attacks and fear among Jews of growing anti-Semitism, Jewish N-VA MP from Antwerp Michael Freilich has called for additional measures, including soldiers on the streets. Antwerp police and Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office have said they will continue to monitor the situation closely and "are keeping their finger on the pulse within various communities" in the city.
This article was updated on Tuesday 12 November to include an update from the Antwerp police.
