Germany arrests 4 Hamas members over alleged attack plans

BERLIN

German authorities arrested several Hamas members on Thursday for alleged plans to carry out attacks against Israeli institutions.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that three of the suspects had close ties to the Hamas military wing, the Qassam Brigades.

“Abdelhamid Al A., Mohamed B., Ibrahim El-R. and Nazih R. have been members of Hamas for years and have taken part in the association's foreign operations,” the statement said.

According to the prosecutors, the suspects received instructions from Hamas leadership cadres in Lebanon, and started preparations in October for possible attacks.

They allegedly sought weapons, planned to store them in Berlin, and kept them ready for attacks against Jewish institutions in Europe.

Another suspect, Ibrahim El-R, was briefly arrested on suspicion of providing support to the group.

The prosecutors did not say whether authorities found any weapons, or concrete plans for an attack during the raids carried out on Thursday.

Three of the suspects were arrested in Berlin following police raids, while Nazih R., a Dutch national, was detained in Rotterdam, on a European arrest warrant.