German federal prosecutors announced the indictment of seven suspects accused of securing weapons for the Hamas terrorist organization and planning attacks timed with the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel. The arrests, made between October 2025 and May 2026, highlight a growing concern over Hamas’ alleged network in Europe.
Details of the indictment
The indictment states that all accused are members of Hamas, whose military wing, the Qassam Brigades, allegedly established weapons depots across Europe. Prosecutors say the group planned a concrete assassination in Germany or Austria targeting Israeli representatives, people of Jewish faith, or individuals with pro‑Israel views. The suspects include a German national (Abed A.), a Danish national (Yousif C.), three Lebanon‑born individuals (Borhan E., Wael F., Kamel M.), a German national (Ahmad I.) and a Bulgarian national (Mohammad S.). German law protects the full surnames of criminal suspects for privacy reasons.
According to the prosecutors, the group had obtained a functional fully automatic rifle, thirteen pistols and more than 700 rounds of ammunition. One suspect, identified only as Mohammed A., allegedly transported some of the weapons to Vienna for storage.
Intelligence and informant involvement
Die Welt reported that one of the accused was acting as a confidential informant for Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. Files indicate the informant continued to report to his handler while allegedly failing to disclose the full extent of his involvement in obtaining ammunition for Hamas.
Broader context of Hamas activity in Germany
German domestic intelligence estimates that Hamas may have had as many as 650 operatives in Germany during 2025, up from 550 in 2024 and 450 in 2023. The same report cites roughly 1,250 Hezbollah operatives active in the country. The Federal Ministry of the Interior reiterated that Hamas has been banned in Germany since 2023 and that its activities violate German criminal law and the principle of international understanding.
Officials emphasized that security authorities continue to investigate extremist activity and that the October 7 attack in Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza have heightened security concerns across Europe. They also noted ongoing pro‑Palestinian protests and online agitation, which sometimes incite hatred against Jews or the State of Israel.
International reaction
Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted on X that Hamas was planning terror attacks in Europe, specifically targeting Jewish communities and Israeli diplomats in Berlin and Vienna, using Turkey as a logistical base. Washington Institute scholar Matthew Levitt confirmed that Hamas continues to plot in Europe under senior Qassam Brigades officials in Lebanon, and that one arrested individual is the son of a senior Hamas leader.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
