German police arrested three suspected Hamas members in Berlin today who are accused of preparing an attack on Jewish targets in Europe.
The three men, along with another suspect arrested in the Netherlands, are said to have begun preparing a weapons depot in the German capital where weapons would be “held in readiness in view of possible terrorist attacks against Jewish institutions in Europe.” “, says a statement from the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office.
News of these arrests came shortly after Danish authorities said they had also prevented a terrorist attack and arrested three other suspects.
Danish police declined to comment on whether there was a connection between the arrests reported in Denmark and Germany.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, said in a statement that Danish security forces had “foiled an attack aimed at killing innocent civilians on European soil.”
“The terrorist organization Hamas has worked tirelessly and exhaustively to expand its deadly operations into Europe, thereby posing a threat to the internal security of these countries,” Netanyahu said.
Danish police did not provide any information about the suspects or provide any information about the possible target of the alleged conspiracy.
Danish police said raids were underway across the country at an early stage in the investigation
Israel's Mossad spy agency said Danish authorities had exposed “Hamas' infrastructure on European soil,” according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office (pictured).
FILE – Palestinian Hamas militants ride a truck with their weapons
“It was a group that was planning a terrorist attack,” said Flemming Drejer, head of operations at the PET secret service, at a press conference.
There are “impacts on other countries” and organized crime, he added.
Drejer would only say that it is believed that other suspects currently abroad are also involved in the conspiracy.
The PET and several police districts made the arrests in Denmark during early morning raids in several parts of the Scandinavian country, the officials said.
The threat level against Denmark is assessed as high, with the PET putting it at four on its five-point threat scale.
Police increased their presence in Copenhagen but said the capital remained “safe.”
According to Danish media, the Jewish community has nevertheless canceled a public Hanukkah celebration planned for Thursday evening.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the operations “show us the situation Denmark finds itself in.”
“For several years we have noticed that there are people who live in Denmark who do not wish us well, who are against our democracy, our freedom and Danish society,” she told reporters.
Drejer and Dahl hold a press conference on the coordinated police operation at the police station in Copenhagen, Denmark
Police Intelligence Service (PET) Senior Police Inspector and Head of Operations Flemming Drejer (r) and Copenhagen Police Chief Police Inspector and Head of Emergency Services Peter Dahl hold a press conference on coordinated police operations at the police station in Copenhagen, Denmark
Over the summer, Denmark and neighboring Sweden became the target of anger in several Muslim countries after a series of protests in Scandinavia that resulted in Koran burnings and desecrations.
In Iraq in late July, nearly a thousand protesters attempted to march on the Danish embassy in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone following a call from fiery cleric Moqtada Sadr.
According to national police, 483 book burnings or flag burnings were recorded in Denmark between July 21 and October 24 this year.
In response, the Danish parliament passed a law earlier this month that criminalizes burning, tearing up or otherwise defacing religious texts such as the Holy Book of Islam.
In 2006, a wave of anti-Danish anger and violence erupted across the Muslim world after cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed were published in the small Nordic country.
And in February 2015, a gunman affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group opened fire on a cultural center in Copenhagen that was hosting a forum on Islam and freedom of expression.
Last year, a Danish court sentenced an IS sympathizer to 16 years in prison for planning a bomb attack. The verdict was the most severe ever handed down under Denmark's anti-terrorism laws.