Terror Suspects Arrested in Denmark and Germany
Denmark and Germany announced Thursday the arrests of several terror suspects, including alleged Hamas members suspected of plotting attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions in Europe over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
The announcements were issued separately and it was unclear how the arrests were connected and if they were the result of coordinated actions, or even possibly one operation spanning the continent.
Danish police said three people were arrested across Denmark while a fourth person was detained in the Netherlands on suspicion of plotting to carry out "an act of terror."
Officials in Copenhagen did not provide any details beyond saying the arrests had "threads abroad" and were "related to criminal gangs," singling out the banned, predominantly immigrant gang Loyal to Familia that had long been behind feuds, violence, robberies, extortion and drug sales in the Danish capital.
However, Flemming Drejer, the operative head of Denmark's Security and Intelligence Service, cryptically said police had "a special focus" on Jewish institutions. He said Denmark was not changing its terror threat level, which has been at "serious," the second-highest level, since 2010.
Multiple Arrests Made in Connection with Plot to Attack Jewish Institutions in Europe
Law enforcement agencies in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany have made a series of arrests in connection with a plot to attack Jewish institutions in Europe. Danish police spokesperson, Henrik Drejer, stated that "persons abroad have been charged...It is a serious situation." The arrests were carried out in collaboration with foreign partners and the individuals apprehended were part of a network.
The suspects will face a custody hearing within 24 hours, with details of the case likely to be kept behind closed doors. Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, described the situation as "extremely serious" and "completely unacceptable in relation to Israel and Gaza."
In the Netherlands, a 57-year-old Dutch man was arrested in Rotterdam based on a request from German authorities. The Dutch counterterrorism agency recently raised the country's threat alert to its second-highest level, citing a "substantial" possibility of an attack.
Meanwhile, in Germany, three suspected members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas were arrested for allegedly planning attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe.
Arrests Made in Europe in Connection with Hamas Operations
Two men were arrested in Berlin and one in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, while a fourth suspect was temporarily detained in Berlin, Germany's federal prosecutor said. Authorities only identified the men by their first names and the first initial of their last name, in line with German privacy rules.
The four were Abdelhamid Al A., born in Lebanon; Egyptian national Mohamed B.; Dutch national Nazih R. and Ibrahim El-R., born in Lebanon.
The authorities alleged three of the men "have been longstanding members of Hamas and have participated in Hamas operations abroad." They said the suspects were "closely linked to the military branch's leadership" of Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann thanked the authorities for the arrests and said that "attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions have also increased in our country in recent weeks" due to the Israel-Hamas war.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office lauded what it said were seven Hamas suspects arrested in Europe, but attributed the arrests to Danish police.
The prime minister's office said Denmark had arrested seven operatives acting on behalf of Hamas and "thwarted an attack aimed at killing innocent citizens on European soil." Netanyahu's office said Israel's intelligence agencies "will continue to operate ... in order to repel the intentions of Hamas and eliminate its capabilities."
The discrepancies between the Danish, German and Israeli statements could not immediately be resolved.
Europe at "Huge Risk of Terrorist Attacks" over Christmas, Warns EU Commissioner
The European Union's home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, has issued a warning that Europe is facing a significant threat of terrorist attacks during the Christmas holiday period. Johansson attributes this risk to the aftermath of the conflict in Gaza.
In its annual assessment for 2023, Denmark's foreign intelligence service, known as FE, also highlighted the potential for escalating conflicts in Europe's immediate vicinity. FE emphasized that the recent war between Israel and Hamas has demonstrated how unresolved conflicts can rapidly escalate, leading to widespread regional instability.
