Hamas planned Berlin-Vienna attacks for Oct. 7 anniversary, indictment shows

Key Points:

• Hamas planned coordinated terrorist attacks targeting Israeli and Jewish interests in Berlin and Vienna around October 7, 2025, marking the second anniversary of the 2023 massacre in Israel, according to a 214-page indictment by Germany’s federal prosecutor.
• The plot involved an international weapons-procurement network that smuggled firearms and ammunition through Denmark, Germany, and Austria, with coordination reportedly overseen from Lebanon.
• Seven men have been charged and are in pretrial detention, including one who acted as a confidential informant for Germany’s domestic intelligence but allegedly concealed his involvement in obtaining weapons.
• The indictment reveals a strategic shift in Hamas’ European operations, aiming to move beyond fundraising and propaganda to actively preparing and executing attacks, with operational cells trained via Turkey and remote coordination.
• The plot unraveled on October 1, 2025, when German authorities arrested suspects during a weapons handover in Berlin, seizing assault rifles, pistols, and ammunition intended for attacks on Israeli diplomats, Jewish centers, and pro-Israel demonstrations.