Prosecutors in Berlin said they have arrested three suspected operatives. The suspects were preparing attacks on Israeli and Jewish institutions in , authorities said.
Hamas has been designated a by Germany, the EU, the US and several governments.
The three men, two Germans and one Lebanese national, were identified by authorities as Abed Al G., Wael F. M. and Ahmad I. Their last names were not disclosed, in line with German privacy rules.
The men are suspected of being involved in gathering firearms and ammunition to be used for acts of violence.
“The weapons were to be used by Hamas for assassinations targeting Israeli or Jewish institutions in Germany,” according to the Office of the Federal Public Prosecutor General.
Security forces found various weapons during the arrest, “including an AK-47 assault rifle, several pistols and a considerable amount of ammunition.”
How were they caught?
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office said the men were intercepted by anti-terrorism investigators, who monitored the suspects during a meeting in Berlin for a weapons exchange.
As operational forces intervened, they discovered functional weapons, including a Glock pistol.
Officials said related searches were conducted in the eastern city of Leipzig, where one of the suspects lives.
Authorities also carried out a search in the western city of Oberhausen.
The suspect will appear in court on Thursday, with authorities looking to determine whether the suspects were directed by Hamas leadership or acted alone as sympathizers with Hamas.
Edited by: Sean Sinico
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