True Identity Revealed: Arrested Hamas Operative in London is Son of Senior Leader Basem Naim

A Hamas operative, arrested in London at the request of German authorities on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets across Europe, has been identified as the son of senior Hamas leader Basem Naim.

German newspaper Welt revealed the identity of the 39-year-old suspect, named only as Mohammed A., who is accused of accumulating weapons and participating in a large-scale terror network across the continent. His handler in the wider network was reportedly arrested last month during an operation that involved assistance from the Mossad.

Allegations of Arms Trafficking and Plotting

The German Federal Prosecutor's Office announced the arrest of Mohammed A. over the weekend, noting his alleged involvement in plans to advance Hamas terrorist attacks in Germany and other European nations.

According to Welt, Mohammed A. is specifically accused of receiving five handguns and ammunition in Berlin last summer from another suspect who was already apprehended in early October. Mohammed A. then allegedly transported these weapons to Vienna. Investigators believe the firearms were intended for use in attacks against Israeli or Jewish institutions throughout Germany and Europe.

Security sources noted that Mohammed A. was initially arrested in London in early October but was released at the time; that initial arrest was reportedly unrelated to the current terrorism suspicions.

Connections to Hamas Leadership

The suspect's father, Basem Naim, is a highly recognizable and senior figure within Hamas's international apparatus. Naim previously served as the Health Minister in the Hamas government in Gaza and later headed the Youth and Sports department. Recent reports indicate that Basem Naim was recently in Qatar, where he reportedly survived an Israeli Air Force strike in Doha.

The investigation into Mohammed A. is part of a much broader case involving four men, two of whom are German citizens, accused of planning attacks against Jewish targets across Europe. Security officials revealed that the group operated for over a year, initially focusing on organized crime activities before their deeper connections to Hamas were uncovered.

Investigators suspect the individuals belonged to a Turkish-Lebanese crime network that utilized smuggling routes from the Middle East through Istanbul, extending into Scandinavia and Germany. During the investigation, it was discovered that the individuals were in contact with Hamas and were likely preparing to carry out terrorist operations in Europe. Following the transfer of weapons, Mohammed A. was placed under close surveillance by German investigators. Austrian security authorities also announced that they had located the weapons cache in Vienna where the handguns were stored.

The terror cell was ultimately thwarted after three Hamas operatives were arrested in Germany just over a month ago. The Prime Minister’s Office in Israel officially confirmed that the Mossad provided intelligence assistance in the apprehension of that cell, one member of which was identified as Mohammed A.’s handler.