German federal prosecutors announced on Thursday that three men were arrested in Berlin on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack on behalf of Hamas. According to investigators, the group allegedly planned assaults on Jewish or Israeli institutions in Germany.
The decision to move in came when authorities learned of an imminent weapons handover in the capital. During the operation, officers seized an AK-47 assault rifle, several pistols and large amounts of ammunition. Investigators believe the weapons were intended for a planned attack.
Long-running surveillance by federal authorities
The suspects — identified only as Abed Al G., Wael F. M., and Ahmad I. under German privacy laws — had been under observation for months by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). All three men are between 30 and 40 years old, born in Lebanon and Syria, and are suspected of being active members of Hamas abroad.
Prosecutors allege that since the summer, the men had been attempting to acquire heavy firearms on the black market for use in an attack. It remains unclear whether specific targets had already been selected. The suspects are expected to appear before a federal judge in Karlsruhe on Friday to determine whether they will be held in pre-trial detention.
Hamas weapons caches in Europe
The case adds to growing concerns about Hamas activity in Europe. In December 2023, four alleged Hamas operatives were arrested in Germany; their trial is ongoing in Berlin. That investigation revealed the existence of weapons depots linked to Hamas in several European countries.
Authorities previously discovered a cache in Denmark and believe other depots may exist in Bulgaria and Poland. While a suspected Polish site has never been located, the findings significantly altered how German security services assess Hamas: from viewing the country as merely a safe haven, to recognizing it as a potential operational hub for attacks.
Shift in Germany’s security outlook
For decades, Germany was not considered a primary operations ground for Hamas, but rather a logistical and fundraising base. Recent investigations challenge that view, suggesting the group’s military wing — the Qassam Brigades — may be seeking more direct capabilities on European soil.
Officials have not disclosed whether the Berlin suspects were directly linked to the earlier group or whether the weapons caches are part of the same network. However, security experts warn that the arrests highlight increasing risks to Jewish communities and Israeli-linked institutions in Germany.
