Refugee suspected of attacking Maccabi fans released from jail

A Palestinian refugee who is accused of attacking two Maccabi Tel Aviv football supporters during the violence following last November’s Europa League football match against Ajax has been released from custody by judges in Amsterdam during a pro-forma hearing.

The public prosecution department had said Mahmoud A, whose trial was postponed in December, should be remanded in custody pending the full trial. A has been held since he turned himself in to the police shortly after the disturbances.

A faces two charges, one of “attempted manslaughter” for kicking a man four times while he was lying on the ground. The victim, who had not been identified during the first hearings last year, has since come forward and made a formal complaint.

The other charge relates to an attack on a second man.

A grew up in Gaza and came to the Netherlands last year, where he applied for asylum. His brother was killed in an Israeli bombardment, local broadcaster AT5 said.

“We cannot separate A’s actions from what he and his family have experienced in Gaza,” his lawyer told the court. “He became angry when genocide was being celebrated on the streets,” she said. “It had an impact on him because he understands Hebrew. The situation is so unique I do not think there is a danger he will reoffend.”

According to the Parool, A burst into tears when judges said they did not see him as a flight risk and ordered him to be released until the full trial takes place, to cheers from his supporters.

Earlier, the public prosecutor called for a 90-day jail term, 64 suspended, for Mounir M, a taxi driver and one of the moderators of group app Buurthuis 2, where calls for attacks on Maccabi supporters were made.

Three other men appeared in court on Wednesday. They face jail terms of up to one year.

These four verdicts will be announced on March 19.