BERLIN Four suspected Hamas members were arrested between Germany and the Netherlands on charges of preparing attacks on Jewish targets. Three of them were stopped in Berlin, the fourth in Rotterdam. The first would have planned to bring weapons to the German capital for possible attacks, while the fourth would have offered them logistical support. Nothing is known about possible destinations.
Federal prosecutors said the men went to Berlin several times in October, where they apparently had an underground weapons depot that had been set up some time ago. The group's leader, identified by authorities as Abdelhamid Al A., who was born in Lebanon, was allegedly hired by the Hamas leadership itself to procure weapons in his home country. The order would arrive in the spring. The four arrested have all been members of Hamas for years and are said to have been involved in the terrorist group's “foreign operations.” They would work in “close contact” with the leadership of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
After some unconfirmed and contradictory information regarding the number of participants and timing – Netanyahu also spoke of a raid in Europe – there was a report from the Mossad about the actions of the Islamic cell behind the arrests. If confirmed, this would be Hamas' first planned attack in Germany.
At the start of the war, the German government strongly condemned Hamas, and Berlin also banned powerful “humanitarian” organizations that supported the group. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser from the SPD spoke of the success of the prevention apparatus. “We keep the Islamist scene under control. The protection of Jews is our top priority.” For Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, the authorities are working intensively to prevent “the Jews in our country from having to fear for their safety again.” There is great concern about Islamist attacks in Germany, where the government has completely sided with Israel. “The danger is more real than ever,” explained Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution Thomas Haldenwang.