Four alleged Hamas members suspected of plotting terror attacks on European soil have been arrested by German and Dutch authorities, Germany’s federal prosecutor said in a statement on Thursday.
Three people were arrested in Germany and one in the Netherlands on suspicion of planning attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe, the prosecutor said.
Hamas is classified by the United States, the European Union and other nations as a terrorist organization.
Reacting to news of the arrests, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser thanked the German and Dutch police authorities, stating that it “shows that our security authorities are extremely vigilant and act consistently.”
“The protection of Jews is our top priority. We use all constitutional means against those who threaten the lives of Jews and the existence of the state of Israel,” Faeser said.
German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann also thanked authorities for the “successful investigation,” which has “contributed to ensuring that Jews in Europe can continue to live in safety and peace.”
The incident comes after the European Commissioner for Home Affairs warned the war between Israel and Hamas has increased polarization within European society.
Meanwhile, the news came as Denmark and the Netherlands arrested four other people suspected of terrorism offenses.
However, Denmark’s Intelligence Agency told CNN those cases had “no direct connection” to the arrests of suspected Hamas members made by German and Dutch authorities.
A spokesperson for the Danish Intelligence Agency told CNN that there is “no direction connection between the terrorism arrests that have been made in Denmark and the case referred to concerning Hamas-affiliated persons arrested in Germany.”
