German police arrested three alleged members of the Palestinian extremist group Hamas in Berlin on Thursday, accusing them of preparing to attack Jewish targets in Europe. Danish police have arrested three more people in an anti-terrorism raid.
The three men, along with a suspect arrested in the Netherlands, had begun preparing an arms depot in the German capital to keep weapons ready for possible terrorist attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe, German federal prosecutors said.
In Berlin, police arrested Mohamed B., an Egyptian citizen, and two men of Lebanese origin, Abdelhamid Al A. and Ibrahim El-R. Nazih R., a Dutch citizen, was arrested in Rotterdam and Danish authorities are also interested in the same person, the BBC reported.
German authorities suspect that those arrested are long-time members of Hamas. According to the accusation, they were closely linked to the leaders of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
“We will use all legal means against those who threaten the lives of Jews and the existence of the State of Israel,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said.
Danish police have arrested three people in an anti-terrorism raid
“This was a group planning a terrorist act,” said Flemming Drejer, PET’s chief of operations.
“Some people involved in the conspiracy are overseas,” Drejer added.
PET officers and police from several districts made arrests early in the morning in several areas of Denmark, police said.
PET rated the threat as worthy of level four on a five-point scale.
“The operation was carried out under suspicion of preparations for a terrorist attack,” the security services said.
Police increased their presence in Copenhagen, but confirmed that the situation in the capital was not dangerous.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the operations showed the situation Denmark found itself in.
“For years we have observed that there are people who live in Denmark but do not love us, who are against our democracy, our freedom and Danish society,” the Danish prime minister said.
In the summer, anger in several Muslim countries focused on Denmark and Sweden because Korans were being publicly burned in those countries. Denmark was forced to pass a law in early December prohibiting burning, tearing up or otherwise desecrating the Scriptures.
2023-12-14 15:38:00
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