An alleged Hamas operative was arrested in Germany on Thursday for transporting weapons for a cell that planned to attack European Jewish and Israeli sites, according to the German Federal Public Prosecutor General (GBA)’s office, and is the sixth suspect accused of being part of a multinational network.
Mahmoud Z. was arrested on a train in Flensburg after entering Germany from Denmark and being charged with multiple firearms violations.
The Lebanese-born man allegedly received weapons and ammunition in Hesse from alleged Hamas operative Borhan El-K., and transported them to alleged Hamas operative Wael FM in Berlin. Through Mahmoud Z., fellow Lebanese national Wael and his cell received in August a Kalashnikov automatic rifle, eight Glock pistols, and 600 rounds of ammunition.
Borhan El-K. was arrested by German authorities on Tuesday while entering the country from the Czech Republic, possibly returning to Denmark where he resided. Danish authorities reportedly searched Borhan El-K’s residence in Copenhagen and arrested another suspect in the surrounding area. El-K is not a Danish citizen, and, like Mahmoud Z., was born in Lebanon.
Wael FM, the recipient of the weapons, was arrested on October 1 alongside two other suspected Hamas operatives, German nationals, “Abed Al G” and “Ahmad I.”
Four other Hamas operatives were arrested across Europe
Last Monday, British citizen “Mohammed A.” was arrested in London for allegedly meeting with Abed Al G. in Berlin in July and August when he was given weapons to transport and store in Austria. The weapons cache of five handguns and 10 magazines was uncovered in a rented Vienna storage unit.
Die Welt reported on Tuesday that Mohammad A. was the son of Hamas official Bassem Naim.
German authorities have not specified the targets of the attack, but have stated broadly that the weapons were set to be used against Israeli and Jewish sites in Germany and the rest of Europe.
Mathilda Heller contributed to this report.