Dutch firebrand Wilders urges severe punishment for attacks on Jews

Hooligans found guilty of the assault of Israeli football fans in Amsterdam should where possible lose their Dutch nationality, right-wing populist political leader Geert Wilders said on Wednesday.

Wilders, who leads the largest group in the Dutch parliament, has blamed Muslims and Dutch citizens with Moroccan roots for the violence in the city around a football match between Israel's Maccabi team and Ajax Amsterdam last week.

"We saw how Muslims hunted Jews on the streets of Amsterdam, a pogrom of the worst kind," Wilders told parliament in The Hague.

He called for the perpetrators to be severely punished and said this should include withdrawal of Dutch citizenship in cases where they had dual nationality, he said.

No information has as yet been released by the authorities regarding the origins or religion of the suspected attackers.

The Dutch parliament held an urgent debate on the clashes, during which dozens of Maccabi fans were attacked in the city late on Thursday and into the early hours of Friday. Up to 30 people were injured, with most of the injuries light.

Three young men have been arrested in connection with the fighting, and further arrests are expected.

Coalition partners of Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) are calling for severe punishments to be introduced for anti-Semitic acts, along with more strenuous efforts to integrate immigrants.

Opposition politicians accused Wilders of fomenting anti-Muslim hatred. Labour Party leader Frans Timmermans warned that he was pouring oil on the flames. "Hatred cannot be fought with hatred," Timmermans said.

Amsterdam authorities have reconstructed the events and found that hooligans on foot, scooters and in cars pursued the Maccabi fans. The city and the police termed the attacks "anti-Semitic" and calls were issued on the internet for a "Jew hunt."

Maccabi fans are also reported to have committed acts of violence and to have displayed racist behaviour towards Muslims.