Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 15 (Xinhua) -- According to information released by the prosecutors of Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark on the 14th, a total of seven suspects have been arrested by the three countries** on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks against Jews in Europe, four of whom are suspected of being members of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). Hamas** denies that any member has committed crimes in Europe**.
German prosecutors said in a statement that three of the four suspects were arrested in the German capital, Berlin, including two Lebanese and one EgyptianThe other is a Dutch citizen in the Dutch city of Rotterdam**. Prosecutors suspect they have close ties to the top of Hamas-affiliated military groups.
People walk on a bridge in Berlin, Germany, on January 13. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ren Pengfei.
The statement said that the four men were suspected of hiding in Berlin in case they could launch terrorist attacks against Jews in Europe at any time.
German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said attacks against Jews in Germany have increased since a new round of conflict broke out between Palestine and Israel on October 7.
The Netherlands confirmed that at the request of Germany, a 57-year-old man was arrested in Rotterdam on the 14th.
Denmark arrested three suspects involved in terrorism on the 14th, but did not say whether there was a direct connection with the above four people. Denmark** said that the arrest foiled a network that was preparing to launch a terrorist attack, and that the intelligence was based on a cooperative investigation with a foreign country**.
On December 14, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, people rescue people on the rubble of buildings following Israeli air strikes. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Yasser Cudi).
Danish Prime Minister Mette Fraseriksen said the arrest was linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that "there are attempts to bring conflicts from other parts of the world into Danish society, which is completely unacceptable."
Israel's Prime Minister's Office issued a statement saying that the latest cases uncovered by the Danish security services showed that Hamas was trying to extend its "deadly operation" to Europe.
Sami Abu Zuhri of Hamas responded: "We deny that there are Hamas members in Denmark, Germany or other European countries. Such rhetoric is intended to influence the mass rallies and marches in Europe in support of Palestine. (Wang Hongbin).