On Iran's orders: Planned to attack senior Jewish figures in Germany and were sentenced to prison

A German court sentenced two men to up to eight and a half years in prison for planning assassinations and arson attacks against Jewish targets in Berlin on behalf of Iran. Among the targets: the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany and a former member of the Bundestag.

The Higher Regional Court in Hamburg sentenced Ali S., a Danish citizen, to eight and a half years in prison and Tawab M., an Afghan citizen, to four and a half years for planning assassinations and arson attacks against Jewish and pro-Israeli targets in Germany on behalf of Iran. According to the court, Ali S. was recruited by Iranian intelligence. The targets included Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and Volker Beck, president of the German-Israel Society and a former Bundestag member. Ali S. was sent in early 2025 to gather information on both men and also planned to set fire to a kosher food business in Berlin. The plot against Beck advanced to the stage of seeking weapons, and the two were arrested in Denmark and extradited to Germany. Judge Petra Wende-Schöps stated: "Iran is trying to export its terror to Germany. This is unacceptable." Beck, who was a target, said: "Without the Mossad, I probably wouldn't be alive today" and called for the expulsion of Iran's ambassador. Iran's embassy has previously denied the allegations.