Scandal in Germany: intelligence informant turned out to be in Hamas

Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office has filed charges against seven individuals suspected of being members of Hamas and preparing attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets. The scandal stems from the fact that one of the defendants, Mohammed S., was registered as an informant for the German intelligence agency BfV while simultaneously supplying the cell with weapons.

Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office has filed indictments against seven individuals suspected of membership in the terrorist organization Hamas. According to the investigation, the cell was preparing a series of attacks on Israeli, Jewish, and pro-Israeli targets in Germany and Austria, timed to coincide with the second anniversary of the October tragedy. Authorities seized an automatic rifle, 13 pistols, and over 700 rounds of ammunition from the suspects, some of which were stored in a warehouse in Vienna. Particular outrage was caused by the fact that one of the defendants, Mohammed S., was officially listed as an informant for the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) while simultaneously participating in supplying the cell with weapons. This has raised questions about the quality of intelligence vetting procedures. Parliamentarians have unsuccessfully attempted to determine the extent of involvement by Israel's Mossad in uncovering the cell. All defendants are in custody, with one detainee in the UK awaiting extradition.