‘Jews to the gas’ chants and police officer injured after Morocco World Cup exit
Dutch police dispersed crowds in The Hague after Holocaust-related abuse, while separate post-match disorder in London left a police officer injured and four under arrest
Antisemitic slogans including “Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas” were chanted by a crowd in The Hague after Morocco’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to France, while separate post-match disorder in central London left a Metropolitan Police officer in hospital and four people under arrest.
Videos circulating on social media showed a crowd gathered in the Dutch city’s Schilderswijk district following France’s 2-0 victory on Thursday evening. People could be heard chanting “All Jews are gay” and “Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas” while Palestinian flags were waved.
Local reports said community volunteers initially attempted to disperse the crowd before Dutch police arrived in large numbers, bringing the unrest to an end less than an hour after the match.
Claims circulating on social media that the crowd had gathered outside accommodation used by Israeli tourists could not be substantiated. Footage from the scene appeared to show demonstrators outside a health clinic rather than a hotel or guesthouse.
There is no suggestion that the events in the Netherlands were connected to a separate disorder in London, beyond both taking place after the same World Cup match.
In London, Metropolitan Police officers were called to Edgware Road after crowds gathered and blocked traffic following the final whistle.
The force said the situation “escalated with the group throwing bottles and setting off fireworks.”
One police officer was taken to hospital with head injuries after being struck by what officers believe was a glass bottle.
Four people were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. No other injuries were reported.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We will not tolerate such disorder on our streets, or attacks on our officers.
“We will be reviewing CCTV and video footage circulating on social media to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice.”
Westminster City Council leader Paul Swaddle condemned the violence and urged football supporters “to be respectful throughout the tournament”.
The crowd dispersed during the early hours of Friday morning, and Edgware Road reopened at around 1am.
West London Synagogue, which is situated on Edgware Road, has been contacted to establish whether the disorder caused any damage, disruption or security concerns.
The incidents came days after another World Cup-related antisemitic controversy, when the Wikipedia page of French referee François Letexier was falsely edited to claim he was Jewish following Argentina’s victory over Egypt, fuelling antisemitic conspiracy theories online.
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