Hamas Operatives in Europe

"[Danish police had] a special focus [on Jewish institutions. Denmark was not changing its terror threat level, which has been at "serious" the second-highest level, since 2010]."

"Persons abroad have been charged... It is a serious situation. [The arrests were carried out in] collaboration with our foreign partners; [those arrested were part of] a network."

Flemming Drejer, operative head, Denmark's Security and Intelligence Service

 

"This is extremely serious." 

"It is of course completely unacceptable in relation to Israel and Gaza, that there is someone who takes a conflict somewhere else in the world into Danish society."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen

A police officer stands in front of the court in Frederiksberg, Denmark, after police conducted an operation that resulted in three people being arrested in the country who were to be charged with violating terrorism laws, Dec. 14, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/Emil Nicolai Helms/REUTERS

 

The four detained in Germany were identified as Abdelhamid Al A., born in Lebanon; Egyptian national Mohamed B.; Dutch national Nazih R. and Ibrahim El-R., born in Lebanon. Three of the men "have been longstanding members of Hamas and have participated in Hamas operations abroad." The suspects were "closely linked to the military branch's leadership" of Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the European Union.

 

According to German authorities, three people have been arrested on suspicion of preparing to attack Jewish institutions in Europe. One person was arrested in the Netherlands, but whether there were ties to the Hamas investigation is yet unclear. Two people being held in Denmark were ordered to pretrial detention until January 9. They were identified by Danish media as a man in his 50s and a 19-year-old woman.

 

Police raided six locations in Berlin as part of the operation   Getty Images

The arrests of the three on suspicion of plotting to carry out "an act of terror" was announced by Danish intelligence agency PET. One individual identified by Danish media is a 29-year-old man released after a night-long custody hearing in Copenhagen. Prosecutor Anders Larssen stated four other people were held in "pretrial custody in absentia", without mentioning whether authorities knew their whereabouts much less if an active search was underway. There remained "still someone at large", he said.

 

The custody hearing was held behind "double closed doors"; no details were made available on the case, shrouded in secrecy, while a court order shields the suspects from identification.The three men detained in Germany Thursday had been tasked with finding a previously set-up underground Hamas weapons cache in Europe.

 

"The weapons were due to be taken to Berlin and kept in a state of readiness in view of potential terrorist attacks against Jewish institutions in Europe", explained German prosecutors who allege the suspects "have been long-standing members of Hamas and have participated in Hamas operations abroad".

A judge on Friday ordered the three suspects detained in Berlin held in custody pending a possible indictment as members of a foreign terrorist organization. German Justice Minister, Marco Buschmann, thanked authorities for the "successful investigation" which has "contributed to ensuring that Jews in Europe can continue to live in safety and peace."

"Following the terrible attacks by Hamas on the Israeli population, attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions have also increased in our country in recent weeks. This is shameful and shocking."

"We must therefore do everything we can to ensure that Jews in our country do not have to fear for their safety again. And our security and law enforcement authorities are working flat out to achieve this."

German Justice Minister, Marco Buschmann

A police van outside Germany's parliament.  Sean Gallup/Getty Images