BERLIN — German authorities have arrested three men in Berlin accused of planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets and allegedly linked to the militant group Hamas.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the threat as “concrete,” warning that Germany has become a “zone of activity” for terrorist networks.
Prosecutors say the suspects began acquiring weapons and ammunition over the summer, possibly earlier. The weapons — including an AK-47 assault rifle, several handguns, and a large quantity of ammunition — were intended for targeted killings, according to investigators. Hamas has denied any connection to the men.
Police carried out or planned additional searches in Leipzig and Oberhausen.
The suspects include a 36-year-old German citizen born in Lebanon, a 46-year-old man born in Lebanon with unclear citizenship status, and a 44-year-old German citizen born in Syria. The investigation is ongoing.