4 males who German authorities say are outstanding members of the Hamas motion had been arrested on Thursday on costs of making ready to assault Jewish establishments in Europe, German officers stated.
German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann stated in an announcement that three of the lads had been arrested in Berlin and Dutch police arrested one other within the coastal metropolis of Rotterdam.
The German Federal Prosecutor’s Workplace stated the 4 males had been longtime members of Hamas with ties to its army wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and that they had been energetic within the group’s “exterior operations.” Hamas controls the Gaza Strip and carried out assaults on Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 individuals, sparking a conflict with Israel.
Prosecutors offered few particulars in regards to the alleged plot. They stated the lads had obtained orders from Hamas leaders in Lebanon to convey weapons to the German capital, the place they might be used to assault the Jewish group in Europe. It isn’t clear whether or not the lads smuggled weapons into Berlin or not.
Authorities additionally stated the lads had been tracked down in October 2023 whereas looking for weapons that Hamas activists had saved in an underground bunker in Europe for a while. It was not instantly clear whether or not the lads had discovered the cache or not.
Prosecutors stated that the three males arrested in Berlin, together with an Egyptian nationwide, recognized by authorities solely as Muhammad B., and two Lebanese-born males, Abdel Hamid Al A and Ibrahim Al R. The person who was arrested within the Netherlands is a Dutch citizen, and his identify is Nazih R.
It was not instantly doable to contact the attorneys for the three males. The three males who had been arrested in Germany are scheduled to look earlier than a decide on Friday.
“The arrest of 4 suspected members of the Hamas terrorist group exhibits that our safety authorities are extraordinarily vigilant and are performing coherently,” Nancy Weser, the German Inside Minister chargeable for nationwide safety, stated in an announcement. “We have now the Islamic scene in our eyes.”