Ex-Hamas Security Guard for Haniyeh Arrested in UK for Planning European Terror Attacks
A former security guard for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, identified only as "Mr. X" due to legal reasons, obtained political asylum and British citizenship in 2015, according to a report by the British newspaper The Sunday Times. "Mr. X," who is also the son of a senior Hamas official, had been part of Haniyeh's security detail since 2006. Between 2009 and 2012, he was reportedly arrested in Egypt in connection with a tunnel used for smuggling weapons and gold into Gaza.
Despite his past, "Mr. X" was granted refugee status and subsequently British citizenship after settling in the UK with his family. He worked under the guise of a computer consultant in a major English city, changing his name multiple times and maintaining a facade of a normal life, including participating in anti-Israel protests. He also reportedly established businesses and rated establishments online.
In November, "Mr. X" was arrested in London after intelligence services from Israel's Mossad and Germany discovered his plans to attack Jewish community centers, Israeli diplomats, and pro-Israel demonstrations in Germany or Austria. The plot was reportedly timed to coincide with the second anniversary of the October 7th massacre.
In a joint operation involving Germany, Austria, Denmark, and the UK, a cell of seven suspects was apprehended, with an AK-47 rifle and ammunition seized. "Mr. X" is accused in Germany of smuggling weapons, including handguns and ammunition, to a storage facility in Vienna. He allegedly recorded a video, masked and armed with a Hamas flag, describing the planned attack as an act of revenge for the terror group's military wing.
Authorities believe "Mr. X" was a crucial figure in planning the attacks, which were intended to occur around July and August 2025. He is accused of transferring weapons from Berlin to Vienna and receiving additional ammunition. If convicted in the UK, he faces imprisonment followed by extradition to Germany. The report suggests that the plot was foiled partly due to a German intelligence asset who lost control and withheld information about the extent of "Mr. X's" role.
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