German and Dutch authorities have apprehended four individuals suspected of involvement in a cross-border Hamas terror plot aimed at acquiring weapons to target Jewish institutions in Europe. Additionally, Denmark detained three others on separate terrorism charges, all potentially linked to Hamas, signaling a serious security threat, as highlighted by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who deemed it as severe as it gets.
The federal prosecutor’s office in Germany stated that three men were taken into custody in Berlin and one in Rotterdam. These individuals, described as long-standing Hamas members with ties to its military wing, were alleged to have engaged in Hamas operations abroad. One of them, identified as Abdelhamid Al A, was accused of initiating the search for an underground weapons cache in Europe on orders from Hamas leaders in Lebanon. This cache, previously established covertly by Hamas, was intended for potential terrorist attacks against Jewish institutions in Europe, with plans for the weapons to be brought to Berlin and kept on standby.
During October, coinciding with Hamas’s assault on Israel, three of the four men traveled from Berlin multiple times to scout for these weapons, while the fourth allegedly provided assistance. Though the extent of the plot appears to be in its early stages, it raises concerns following alerts from European counter-terror officials regarding potential heightened threats due to the Gaza conflict. European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson warned of a significant risk of terrorist attacks in the EU during the holiday season, citing the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict as a contributing factor. A similar caution was echoed by Ken McCallum, the head of Britain’s MI5, in October.
In a separate incident in Paris, a German tourist was killed, and two others were injured in a knife and hammer attack in early December. A French individual, arrested and charged in connection with the attack, was reported to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and was under psychological surveillance for mental health issues.
Despite previous warnings primarily focusing on lone actor terrorism spurred by Middle Eastern conflicts, the recent German prosecutor’s statement indicated a plot directed from abroad. The suspects arrested in Germany were identified by their first names and initials: Abdelhamid Al A (born in Lebanon), Mohamed B (an Egyptian national), Nazih R (a Dutch national), and Ibrahim El-R (born in Lebanon). The German federal prosecutor has accused all three apprehended in Germany of being part of a foreign terrorist organization. One of the Hamas leaders they were allegedly linked to was Khalil Hamed al-Kharraz, the second-in-command of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassem brigades, Hamas’s military wing, who was killed in southern Lebanon by Israeli airstrikes in late November.
While Danish police disclosed an investigation into a network preparing a terrorist act that spanned borders and involved criminal groups, they clarified that the arrests in Denmark and Germany were not directly connected. Prime Minister Frederiksen emphasized the unacceptable nature of importing conflicts from elsewhere into Danish society, particularly related to the Israel-Gaza situation.
Danish law enforcement announced plans to bolster their public presence, especially in Copenhagen and around Jewish areas. A Hanukkah celebration at Copenhagen’s city hall square was canceled as a precautionary measure. The Mossad Israeli intelligence agency commended Danish authorities for apprehending seven individuals affiliated with Hamas and thwarting an attack aimed at harming civilians in Europe. They accused Hamas of attempting to expand its operations in Europe, although their statement did not reference Germany or the Netherlands specifically.
