Hamas Operative Granted UK Asylum Plotted Terror Attack in Europe

A former bodyguard of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was granted asylum and later citizenship in the United Kingdom, was arrested on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe. The individual, identified only as "Mr. X" due to legal restrictions, is reportedly the son of a senior Hamas official and served in Haniyeh's security detail.

According to reports, "X" received refugee status in the UK in 2015, subsequently becoming a British citizen, despite his past affiliation with Hamas. He allegedly lived a seemingly normal life with his family in England, working as a computer consultant and engaging in anti-Israel activism. However, he is accused of remaining a significant asset for Hamas, changing his name multiple times.

His arrest in London last November followed intelligence shared by Mossad and German security services, which uncovered a plot to attack Jewish community centers, Israeli diplomats, and pro-Israel demonstrations in Germany or Austria. German authorities have charged "X" with transferring weapons, including handguns and ammunition, to a cache in Vienna.

A video reportedly filmed in Vienna shows "X," masked and armed alongside a Hamas flag, describing the planned attack as an act of revenge by Hamas's military wing, timed to coincide with the second anniversary of the October 7th massacre. If convicted, "X" faces imprisonment in the UK, followed by potential extradition to Germany.

Sources described him as a "senior asset" for Hamas, who allegedly used his British citizenship and passport to travel to Turkey and Qatar to meet with Hamas leadership.