Seven AZ Alkmaar supporters who were involved in the attack on West Ham last week have been arrested by the police
A total of 26 men involved in attempts to attack family and friends of West Ham United players in the Netherlands last week have been reported to the police, Dutch media reported on Wednesday.
It is understood that seven persons have been detained, while authorities are still searching for ten persons.
Dutch police on Tuesday used a television program to ask for help identifying hooligans, showing footage of suspects involved in the attack at the end of the Europa Conference League semi-final between AZ Alkmaar and the London club.
Dutch police had identified 24 supporters as suspects in the alleged premeditated attack at the AZ Stadium in Alkmaar after the home side lost.
More individuals believed to be involved have turned themselves in to police, although 10 of the original list of 24 are still being sought.
Seven of the masked AZ Alkmaar supporters who attacked relatives of West Ham United players during their Europa Conference League match last week have been arrested by the police
The Dutch authorities have been approached by 26 supporters involved in the post-match attack
Fans came forward after police threatened to reveal their identities on a television show
Police had given those involved a deadline on Tuesday to report or otherwise show their images on the national television program ‘Opsporing Caused’, which broadcasts calls to identify criminals caught on camera, suspects, missing persons or unidentified bodies.
“There were people we weren’t looking for at first, but who were afraid that they were on one of the photos,” a police spokesperson told Algemeen Dagblad.
‘It is therefore not the case that they are automatically all suspected of open violence.’
Pictures taken by security cameras of 10 men involved in the attacks were shown on TV on Tuesday. They are also posted on the the program website.
Home supporters broke through a fence and at the final whistle attacked the West Ham contingent seated in a reserved section behind their own team’s dugout at AZ Stadium.
A brawl ensued with West Ham players including captain Declan Rice attempting to intervene, with several family members and friends threatened coming to the rescue.
Striker Mikhail Antonio (center) jumped over the billboards after chaos broke out
An underage boy kicked a West Ham player, the TV show showed as he obscured his face.
The attack was condemned by AZ Alkmaar, which called the actions of their supporters ‘shameful’.
The municipality of Nijmegen has now banned AZ supporters from Sunday’s league match against home team NEC.
Bans on tour guides in the Netherlands are common to prevent possible stadium violence.