German federal prosecutors have charged seven suspected members of Hamas in Berlin over alleged membership in a foreign terrorist organisation and preparations for a serious violent act, including the procurement of weapons, authorities said Friday.
According to prosecutors, the suspects allegedly acted on instructions from senior Hamas figures and acquired a fully automatic rifle, 13 pistols and more than 700 rounds of ammunition in preparation for a planned attack in Germany or Austria in early October 2025.
Investigators said the alleged targets included Israeli representatives, Jewish people and individuals supporting Israel. The planned timing was close to the second anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.
All seven suspects remain in custody.
Alleged European Weapons Network
The investigation goes beyond Germany and is part of a broader European effort to identify suspected networks involved in acquiring, transporting and concealing weapons for potential attacks.
Germany's domestic intelligence service has warned that Hamas or individuals affiliated with the group have sought to establish clandestine logistical structures in Germany for procuring weapons and preparing attacks.
The investigation has involved several European countries, with authorities examining suspected weapons movements and storage locations outside Germany.
One suspect was arrested in Cyprus in March 2026 and subsequently extradited to Germany, according to Cypriot authorities. Prosecutors allege that the wider network had acquired weapons and ammunition for the planned attacks.
Earlier Arrests in Berlin
The latest charges follow arrests made in Berlin in October 2025.
German investigators said that by the time three suspects were detained, the alleged network had already obtained an automatic rifle, 13 pistols and more than 700 rounds of ammunition.
Authorities have continued investigating other individuals believed to have been connected to the alleged network, including suspects arrested in other European countries.
The case has consequently developed into a wider European investigation into alleged Hamas-linked arms procurement and logistics.
Previous Cases and Weapons Caches
The latest prosecution follows earlier German investigations into suspected Hamas-linked weapons activities.
In one previous case, German authorities investigated allegations that weapons were being acquired and stored in several European countries for possible attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets.
Authorities have also examined suspected weapons caches in countries including Austria, Poland, Bulgaria and Denmark as part of investigations into the alleged logistical infrastructure.
In March 2026, a Berlin court sentenced four men to prison terms ranging from approximately four and a half to six years in a separate case involving an alleged Hamas-linked cell and weapons storage intended for possible attacks in Europe.
Security Concerns Since October 7
The investigations have unfolded against a backdrop of heightened security concerns across Europe since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
German security agencies have repeatedly warned about calls for violence against Jewish communities and Israeli interests in Germany.
The alleged weapons network has intensified concerns that militant organisations could seek to build logistical structures outside the Middle East capable of supporting attacks in Europe.
For European security agencies, the cases underline the importance of disrupting not only suspected attackers but also the procurement, transportation and storage networks that could provide weapons for future attacks.
Court Will Determine Criminal Responsibility
The latest charges are allegations, not convictions.
The German courts will now determine whether the evidence presented by federal prosecutors is sufficient to establish the defendants' criminal responsibility.
The case is likely to attract significant attention because it involves allegations of a transnational weapons network and suspected preparations for attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe.
