In this article, we will explore the details of a potential terrorist plot by Hamas that was thwarted in Europe. We will discuss the arrests made in Germany and Denmark and the potential terrorist threats stemming from Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7. We will also address Hamas’s role in expanding its deadly operations in Europe and threatening the security of European countries. Furthermore, we will talk about the important responses and comments from the Israeli side, Hamas, and international officials.
Arrests in Germany and Denmark
German authorities announced on Thursday that they arrested four people linked to Hamas after uncovering a plot targeting Jewish institutions in Europe. On the same day, Danish authorities announced arrests related to separate terrorist charges amid global concerns about potential terrorist attacks stemming from Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.
Main Details
The German public prosecutor announced that the suspects are Abdul Hamid Al-Ali, Mohammed B., Nazeer R., and Ibrahim R. Nazeer R. was arrested in the Netherlands, and Ibrahim R. is in temporary custody, with a judge set to decide tomorrow whether to issue a full arrest warrant.
The German and Dutch police arrested the four individuals suspected of being “long-term members of Hamas” who allegedly participated in Hamas operations abroad and are closely linked to Hamas leadership.
The prosecutor claimed that Hamas leadership tasked Abdul Hamid Al-Ali with creating an underground weapons cache in Europe to be stored in Berlin for use in “potential terrorist attacks against Jewish institutions in Europe.” It was alleged that Abdul Hamid Al-Ali began searching for weapons to build this cache last spring, and in October – the same month as the attack in Israel – he traveled repeatedly from Berlin to seek arms with Mohammed B. and Nazeer R., aided by Ibrahim R.
Arrests in Denmark
In a separate announcement on Thursday, Danish authorities stated that they arrested three additional individuals on terrorism-related charges, with a fourth person being detained in the Netherlands on suspicion of planning a terrorist act, although no links to Hamas were specified.
Danish authorities revealed little information regarding the alleged plot behind those arrests, and it was initially unclear whether it was connected to the arrests made by German and Dutch police. Officials in Copenhagen only stated that the case has “links abroad” and concerns criminal gangs, with the police focusing “particularly” on Jewish institutions.
The Danish intelligence agency later confirmed to CNN that the Danish arrests have “no direct connection” to the four arrests made by German and Dutch authorities.
Reactions
Hamas officials denied any connection between any of the arrested individuals and the organization. In a statement to Reuters, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said: “We deny the existence of Hamas members detained in Denmark, Germany, or any other European country. The aim of spreading these allegations is to influence pro-Palestinian mass gatherings in Europe.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated: “The terrorist organization Hamas has tirelessly and diligently worked to expand its deadly operations in Europe, thus posing a threat to the internal security of these countries.”
Main Background
These arrests come amid growing global concern about potential terrorist attacks, particularly targeting Jews, following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, which ignited the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. In November, Reuters reported that several European security officials are worried about the increasing danger of extremist Islamic terrorism activity after the October 7 attack. In the United States, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress on December 5, noting that the threat levels have reached “a completely different level” since the Hamas attack, with “a variety of foreign terrorist organizations calling for attacks against us.” These attacks also come amid rising anti-Semitic threats worldwide, including in the United States.
For more
From the information, you can read the articles related to the unprecedented level of terrorist threats inspired by Hamas, which were warned about by the FBI Director.
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