Three suspected members of the Palestinian armed group Hamas have been arrested for allegedly planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish institutions in Germany, prosecutors say.
The three men - two of whom are German citizens and one of whom is Lebanese-born - are suspected of having procured firearms and ammunition since the summer to allegedly be used in the attacks, Germany's federal prosecutor's office stated.
The men, named as Abed Al G, Wael F M, and Ahmad I, were arrested in Berlin on Tuesday, a day before Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Hamas, which controls Gaza and is labeled a terrorist organization by the EU, denied any connection to these individuals.
The federal prosecutor's statement released on Wednesday indicated that during the arrests, various weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle and several pistols, along with substantial ammunition, were found. The prosecutor's office stated these weapons were intended for use in assassination attacks targeting Israeli or Jewish institutions in Germany.
Reports suggest the suspects were arrested while meeting for a weapons handover in Berlin. Police also conducted searches in Leipzig and Oberhausen in connection with the arrests.
The charges include preparation for severe violence endangering the German state and affiliation with a foreign terrorist organization. The suspects are set to appear before a federal judge on Thursday.
Hamas commented that the accusations against them were 'baseless' and intended to undermine support for the Palestinian cause within Germany. They emphasized their policy of confining operations within what they consider Palestinian territory.
This arrest follows earlier trials of Hamas members in Berlin, accused of plotting attacks on Jewish sites across Europe.
