Four Suspected Members of Hamas Arrested in Europe Over Alleged Terrorism Plot
European authorities have detained four men suspected of being members of Hamas on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in Europe. According to officials, the suspects were arrested in three countries – France, Italy, and the Netherlands – on Friday and Saturday.
The four men were allegedly planning to carry out a terrorist attack against Israelis and Jews in Europe. The plot is believed to have been linked to the militant Islamist group Hamas. The group, which is considered a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union, controls the Gaza Strip in the Palestinian Territories and has waged an insurgency campaign against Israel since its founding in 1987.
The arrests came as a result of an extensive investigation by the European Union’s Counter Terrorism Center, which monitored the suspects for years. The four suspects are identified only as being between the ages of 20 and 40. It is believed that they had been planning the attack since 2013.
Officials have stated that they are still investigating the details of the plot and have not yet provided any further information. The four suspects are currently in custody and awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges.
The arrests come amid an increase in terror attacks against European civilians and a spike in anti-Semitic hate crimes. In recent months, several terror attacks carried out by Islamist militants have shaken Europe, including a truck attack in Nice, France that killed 84 people, and a shooting in a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives.
In the wake of the arrests, European authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. The investigation into the terrorist plot is ongoing and further details are expected to emerge in the coming days and weeks.