German authorities have arrested three suspected foreign operatives of Hamas believed to have been preparing a major act of violence in Germany, federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday.
Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union, is accused of plotting attacks against Israeli and Jewish institutions in Germany.
According to prosecutors, the three men had been involved, at least since this summer, in procuring firearms and ammunition for Hamas, intending to use them in targeted attacks.
“During today’s arrests, various weapons were found, including an AK-47 assault rifle, several pistols, and a significant amount of ammunition,” federal prosecutors said in a statement.
The suspects, identified only under German privacy laws as German national Abed Al G., Wael F. M. (born in Lebanon), and German national Ahmad I., were arrested in Berlin.
Earlier this year, in February, four suspected Hamas members accused of planning attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe went on trial in Berlin—marking the first prosecution of alleged Hamas militants in Germany.
German outlet Der Spiegel reported that counterterrorism investigators observed the suspects meeting in Berlin on Wednesday to hand over weapons, before operational forces intervened and uncovered functional firearms.
