The Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany has brought charges against four alleged members of the Palestinian organization "Hamas" arrested at the end of 2022. They are accused of belonging to a foreign terrorist organization, reported DPA, quoted by BTA.
Detainee Activity
According to the prosecutor's office in Karlsruhe, the detainees were active agents of "Hamas" for years. They held important positions in the organization and had direct connections with its military wing.
Three of the suspects were arrested in Berlin, and the fourth – in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Since the arrests in December last year, they remain in pre-trial detention.
The charges include involvement in the creation and maintenance of weapons depots in various European countries that were part of preparations for potential attacks on Jewish institutions.
Planned attacks
According to a statement from the prosecutor's office, the defendants were considering attacks against:
- The Israeli Embassy in Berlin;
- The US Air Force Base in Ramstein;
- The area around Tempelhof Airport in Berlin.
Arms depots in Europe
One of the men created a warehouse for ammunition and firearms in Bulgaria in early 2019. He later cleared an arms cache in Denmark and transported a gun to Germany. In August 2023 he visited Bulgaria to check the same warehouse.
The defendants made multiple trips between Berlin and Poland between June and December 2023 to locate an alleged arms cache. According to the prosecutor's office, they were unable to find him.
International Importance
The actions of alleged members of "Hamas" underline the threat posed by terrorist networks in Europe and the importance of international cooperation to detect and prevent such activities. The accusations come amid increased efforts by European authorities to fight terrorism and ensure public safety.