Three alleged members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas were arrested in Germany on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, on suspicion of planning a terror attack in Germany targeting Israeli or Jewish institutions.
Officials confirmed that the men were taken into custody following a raid that uncovered weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and ammunition.
According to Germany’s federal prosecutor, the suspects had been trying to procure firearms since earlier this year.
Their arrests came after investigators linked them to possible plots against Jewish community sites.
The men were identified only by their first names and initials — Abed Al G., Wael F. M., and Ahmad I. — in line with German privacy laws.
Two of them hold German citizenship, while the third was born in Lebanon, per reports from AP News.
The suspects are expected to appear in court on Thursday, 2 October 2025, where a judge will decide whether they should remain in custody while awaiting trial.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the men were receiving direct instructions from Hamas leadership or whether they were acting independently as sympathisers of the group.
Hamas has carried out hundreds of attacks against Israeli civilians over the years but rarely operates outside Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Officials say the arrests will raise questions about whether the militant organisation is now trying to expand its reach into Europe.
The news comes amid ongoing international efforts to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Nearly two years ago, Hamas launched an assault on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and saw more than 250 abducted.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed over 66,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 170,000, according to Gaza health authorities.
That conflict has heightened security concerns across Europe, with many countries increasing patrols around Jewish schools, synagogues, and cultural centres.
Police in Germany and other European nations remain on alert due to a rise in antisemitic violence.