Austria foils Hamas plot

Posted 2025-11-09 14:39:18

Austria’s domestic intelligence service discovered a weapons cache in Vienna suspected to be linked to the Hamas terrorist organization

A British suspect was arrested in London and accused of helping store weapons for Hamas to target Jewish and Israeli sites in Europe, authorities said.

Austria’s domestic intelligence service discovered a weapons cache in Vienna suspected to be linked to the Hamas terrorist organization and intended for use in attacks against Israeli or Jewish targets in Europe, the government said Thursday.

“The Directorate for State Security and Intelligence (DSN) has been conducting extensive, internationally coordinated investigations for several weeks into a globally active terrorist organization with ties to Hamas,” read the statement.

“The investigation has led to the suspicion that a group has brought weapons into Austria to stockpile them for potential terrorist attacks in Europe. According to the current state of the investigation, the primary targets of these attacks were Israeli or Jewish institutions in Europe,” the statement continued.

Authorities found five handguns and 10 magazines of ammunition in a suitcase at a rented storage unit, and arrested a 39-year-old British national in London in connection with the plot.

Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office later Thursday named the British national as Mohammed A., detailing the allegations in the arrest warrant.

“Mohammed A. is a member of the terrorist organisation HAMAS. In summer of 2025, he met up twice with Abed Al G., who is being investigated separately in Berlin. On these occasions, Mohammed A. took over five handguns and ammunition from Abed Al G. He then transported the weapons to Austria and stored them in Vienna. These actions served to prepare terrorist attacks on Israeli or Jewish facilities in Germany,” the Public Prosecutor General at the Federal Court of Justice said.

The statement added: “The suspect is due to be brought before the Investigating Judge at the Federal Court of Justice after his extradition from Great Britain.”

The coordinated investigation involved Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom, and is part of a broader effort to counter Hamas-linked networks planning attacks across Europe.

“This current case demonstrates once again that the Directorate of State Security Intelligence Service has excellent international networks and takes decisive action against all forms of extremism. The mission is clear: zero tolerance for terrorists,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.