German authorities announced the arrest of four individuals believed to be associated with Hamas, suspected of planning an attack on Jewish sites. Prosecutors stated that the suspects intended to store weapons in Berlin for a potential assault. In Berlin, three individuals connected to Hamas were apprehended, consisting of two Lebanese and one Egyptian.
In a separate development, Danish authorities arrested three people accused of preparing an attack, and the suspects are expected to face terrorism charges. It remains unclear whether the Danish and German investigations are connected. The Dutch citizen, also a suspect in the Danish case, has not been confirmed to have a link with the German investigation.
According to German prosecutors, Hamas is a banned terrorist group in Europe. Chief Inspector Flemming Drejer of the Danish police confirmed the intent to charge the three suspects arrested in Denmark with terrorism offenses. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the threat as extremely serious. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office claimed that the arrested individuals were “acting on behalf of Hamas,” but Danish authorities have not yet confirmed any direct links to the group.
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard emphasized the tragic confirmation of the threat to Danish Jews. The suspects arrested in Denmark were scheduled to appear in closed court hearings. Chief Inspector Drejer revealed that the investigation uncovered a transnational network with connections to criminal gangs, prompting increased security around Jewish sites and more frequent police patrols in Copenhagen.
Danish intelligence chief Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen linked the terror threat to the Israel-Gaza war and Quran burnings in Denmark and neighboring Sweden. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson recently warned of a “huge risk” of terrorist attacks in Europe over the Christmas period. The terror threat level in Denmark is currently at level four out of five, the second-highest. The PET security and intelligence agency identified militant Islamists, likely from a small group or a lone actor inspired by propaganda, as the main threat to Denmark. Despite recent developments, the government sees no reason to raise the threat level at this time.
