In a significant operation, German authorities have arrested three men linked to Hamas who were allegedly plotting attacks against Israeli and Jewish institutions in Germany.
The three suspects, two of whom are German citizens and one Lebanese-born, were taken into custody in Berlin on Tuesday, just before Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. They are reputed to have procured firearms and ammunition since the summer to facilitate their heinous plans.
The arrests were part of a broader federal investigation that reportedly found various weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, and significant amounts of ammunition. The German federal prosecutors detailed that the weapons were intended for use in assassination attempts on Jewish targets in Germany.
The suspects have been identified as Abed Al G, Wael F M, and Ahmad I, with their arrest occurring during what was described as a weapons handover in Berlin. Concurrent police searches also took place in Leipzig and Oberhausen.
The federal prosecutor's office has charged the men with preparing to execute acts of serious violence that endanger the state, as well as for their affiliations with a foreign terrorist organization. They are expected to appear before a federal judge later this week.
In response to the allegations, Hamas issued a statement denying any connection to the three men and characterized the accusations as attempts to undermine support for the Palestinian people in Germany. The group stated it adheres to a policy of limiting its activities to what they consider Palestinian territory.
The arrests follow legal proceedings against four Hamas members in Berlin earlier in the year on charges of plotting attacks against Jewish sites in Europe, underscoring Germany's ongoing struggle with extremist threats within its borders.
