Hamas-Attacks on Jewish institutions – so far there have been no such acts in Western countries. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office suspects that there are plans for this. There are arrests not only in Germany.
On suspicion of membership in a foreign terrorist organization Federal Prosecutor’s Office A total of four suspected members of the Islamist Hamas were arrested in Berlin and Rotterdam, Netherlands. As the highest German prosecution authority in Karlsruhe announced, this is about weapons that should be kept ready for possible attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe. The arrests were made in cooperation with Dutch investigative authorities.
Accusation: Member of a terrorist organization
According to a statement, in Berlin Three men were arrested: an Egyptian national, a Dutchman and a man born in Lebanon – the latter is the oldest of the suspected conspirators, born in 1967, and was arrested in Rotterdam. The defendants are accused of membership in a foreign terrorist organization.
They should have “close ties to senior managers of the military wing of the Hamas have disposed. From spring 2023 at the latest, one of the Berlin-based suspects was involved in locating an earth depot with weapons in Europe on behalf of Hamas that the organization had set up there in the past. He received his instructions from Hamas leadership cadres in Lebanon.
Were attacks on Jewish institutions planned?
The weapons should therefore be brought to Berlin and used for possible attacks on Jewish institutions Europe be kept ready. In October, the three men living in Berlin set out from Berlin several times in search of the weapons. They were supported by the man who was now arrested in Rotterdam.
The activities of the Men According to information from security circles, they are not directly related to the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7th. Rather, the first reference to the four men is said to have come from last summer.
If the suspicion is confirmed that the men, as members of Hamas, planned attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe, this would be a novelty. According to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany has so far been a place of retreat for Hamas members, where they have only attempted to carry out propaganda and collect donations. In order to prevent this from happening, two associations close to Hamas were banned in 2002 and 2005.
450 Hamas members in Germany
“My thanks go to everyone involved who, with this successful investigation, has made their contribution to ensuring that Jews in Europe can continue to live in security and peace,” said Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP). “We must therefore do everything we can to ensure that Jews in our country do not have to fear for their safety again.”
Since the terrorist attack on October 7th, fears have been increasing that attacks could also occur in Germany. It was only at the beginning of November that Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) issued a ban on Hamas’ activities. Faeser also banned the German branch of the Palestinian network Samidoun.
In Germany, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution assumes there are around 450 members of Hamas. According to the findings, their activities have so far included expressions of sympathy and propaganda activities as well as collecting donations. In contrast to Islamist terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State (IS), Hamas has not yet carried out any attacks in Western countries, but only in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Arrests in Denmark
In Denmark, authorities announced on Thursday the arrests of three suspects on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack. According to Israeli foreign intelligence, they also have connections to Hamas. The Danish authorities have not yet commented on the background or possible target of the planned attack.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
