Celtic fans were attacked by Dutch hooligans armed with pickaxes ahead of tonight’s Euro clash in Amsterdam between the Glasgow club and Ajax.

Windows and tables were smashed when thugs stormed a pub in the city’s notorious Red Light district where dozens of Hoops supporters were drinking.

Shocked fans told how masked hooligans wielding weapons marched into The Old Sailor around 9pm last night and attacked Celtic supporters while chanting “Ajax Hooligans.”

One Celtic eye witness admitted: “Now we’re all worried about what’s going to happen tonight.”

Another supporter claimed: “The doormen just moved out of the way and they started setting about people with pickaxes. We were all minding our own business but this was obviously planned.”

Celtic fans criticised the Dutch authorities for an alleged lack of policing. 

A supporter said: “I think it’s a disgrace that we weren’t better protected by police. How can so many people walk about with masks and weapons and no one stops them? Even afterwards the police didn’t seem to bothered.”

Local police have since arrested five Ajax supporters following the pub attack. 

The police also said that no one needed medical treatment despite reports that some of the thugs had been armed with pickaxes.

But Ajax supporters continued to taunt their rivals online after the attack. They posted pictures on Twitter of a flag
stolen from Celtic fans and gloated: “We were the boss in Glasgow and now we showed them we’re boss in Amsterdam.”

The Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of reports of an incident involving football fans at a bar in Amsterdam.”

Dutch supporters also caused trouble in Glasgow when both teams met in the Uefa Champions League.

Seats at Celtic Park were ripped off and police, stewards and Celtic fans were pelted with missiles and attempts were made to break through a security cordon.

There had been fears following the outbreaks of violence in Glasgow, that supporters travelling to the Netherlands would be targeted.