What happened?
German authorities arrested three suspected Hamas members for allegedly planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish institutions in Germany. Two suspects are German citizens, and one is Lebanese-born. The arrests occurred in Berlin on Tuesday, a day before Yom Kippur.
Weapons seized
Police discovered an AK-47 assault rifle, several pistols, and a significant amount of ammunition. Prosecutors say the weapons were intended for assassination attacks on Israeli or Jewish targets in Germany.
Charges and court appearance
The suspects—identified only by first names and last initials, Abed Al G, Wael F M, and Ahmad I—have been charged with preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state and membership in a foreign terrorist organization. They are scheduled to appear before a federal judge on Thursday.
Hamas denies involvement
Hamas, which controls Gaza and is considered a terrorist organization by the EU, denied any connection to the suspects. The group called the allegations “baseless” and said it limits its activities to Palestinian territories.
Context and previous cases
This incident follows earlier arrests in December 2023, when German and Dutch authorities detained four people accused of plotting attacks on Jewish sites in Europe. Those suspects are currently on trial in Berlin. Searches also took place in Leipzig and Oberhausen around the time of the Berlin arrests.
