In Vienna, Austrian domestic intelligence discovered a weapons stash that, according to the government, is linked to the Palestinian militant group Hamas and could be used for possible terrorist attacks in Europe.
According to the government, a 39-year-old unknown British citizen, who allegedly had close ties to the stash, was arrested in London on Monday.
According to investigators, the target of these attacks was likely Israeli or Jewish institutions in Europe.
The stash and the suspect were part of an internationally coordinated investigation by the Directorate for State Security and Intelligence (DSN) into a global terrorist organization with links to Hamas.
Investigation Chronicle
During the investigation, the agency reported suspicions that the group had brought weapons to Austria with the aim of using them in possible terrorist acts in Europe.
The German prosecution later identified the suspect as Mohammed A. in accordance with privacy protection rules. He, according to reports, met Abed Al-G. twice, who was arrested last month in Germany on suspicion of planning attacks on Israeli or Jewish institutions.
“The current case again demonstrates that the Directorate for State Security and Intelligence has an excellent international network and consistently acts against all forms of extremism”
– Austrian Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner
The prosecutor’s statement also said that after extradition from Britain, the suspect would be handed over to the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice in Germany.
Meanwhile Hamas denied any connection with those detained in Germany last month, calling the accusations unfounded. The group has carried out hundreds of attacks on Israeli civilians over the years, but generally did not operate outside Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The weapons stash, believed to belong to unknown overseas operations linked to Hamas, was found in a suitcase in a rented storage facility in Vienna and contained five pistols and ten magazines for them.
“The current case again demonstrates that the Directorate for State Security and Intelligence has an excellent international network and consistently acts against all forms of extremism,” said Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency confirmed that a 39-year-old man was arrested in central London on Monday by special officers from the National Extradition Unit. He is currently in custody awaiting the next court hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.