German prosecutors said Thursday that three men accused of belonging to Hamas have been placed in pre-trial detention on suspicion of planning attacks against Israeli or Jewish institutions in Germany.
The suspects, identified under German privacy laws only as Abed Al G., Wael F. M., and Ahmad I., appeared before an investigating judge in Karlsruhe, where formal arrest warrants were issued. They are being held in custody as federal investigators continue to examine their activities.
Authorities said the men were involved in efforts to acquire weapons earlier this year. During raids, police seized firearms including an AK-47 assault rifle, along with ammunition. Two of the suspects are German citizens, while the third was born in Lebanon.
The case comes amid heightened tensions in Europe over the Gaza conflict, which has fueled rising antisemitic incidents in several countries. Prosecutors allege that the suspects were acting in support of Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States.
Hamas, in a statement issued Wednesday, denied any involvement. The group said the arrests were “baseless” and intended to undermine German public sympathy for Palestinians. Hamas also reiterated its longstanding claim that its armed struggle is confined to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Germany has faced growing concern about extremist threats linked to the war, with authorities stepping up security around synagogues and Jewish cultural institutions.
The federal prosecutor’s office said investigations into the three suspects will likely continue for months before a trial begins.
