Three individuals, suspected of being members of the Palestinian group Hamas, have been arrested in Germany for allegedly planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish institutions. The German federal prosecutor’s office reported that two of the suspects are German citizens while the third is of Lebanese descent. Authorities allege that since the summer, the men have been acquiring firearms and ammunition for use in potential attacks.
The suspects, identified as Abed Al G, Wael F M, and Ahmad I, were apprehended in Berlin just prior to the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. Hamas, which has control over Gaza and is classified as a terrorist organization by the European Union, has denied any involvement with the individuals.
During the arrests, various weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle and multiple handguns along with a significant amount of ammunition, were reportedly seized. The federal prosecutor’s office stated that these weapons were intended for “assassination attacks” on Israeli or Jewish targets in Germany. Reports indicate that the suspects were taken into custody during a weapons handover in Berlin. Additionally, police conducted searches in Leipzig and Oberhausen in conjunction with the arrests.
The suspects are facing charges of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the German state and of membership in a foreign terrorist organization. They are scheduled to appear before a federal judge. Following the arrests, Hamas described the allegations as “baseless,” asserting that they intend to limit their activities to Palestinian territories. This incident follows a recent trial in Berlin, where four other Hamas members were accused of plotting attacks on Jewish sites in Europe.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgknpzrkyvno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss