Hamas Terror Plot in Europe Targeted Jewish Sites, Investigation Reveals

A Hamas network planned to carry out attacks in Europe around the second anniversary of the October 7th massacre, with potential targets including the Jewish Museum and the Austrian-Israeli Association in Vienna. This is according to a joint investigation by Germany's Der Spiegel and Austria's Der Standard, which has uncovered new details about the foiled terror plot.

The investigation suggests possible involvement of senior Hamas official Bassam Naim and communications he had with his son, Mohammed Naim, a key figure in the organization. Bassam Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau and former health minister, reportedly discussed the attack plans in Vienna or Germany with his son via Telegram, alongside other topics like ceasefire negotiations with Israel and U.S. policy. This occurred while Bassam Naim publicly condemned attacks against Jews in Europe and the U.S.

Mohammed Naim had previously been identified as the owner of weapons seized in Vienna. The investigation now reveals he filmed a four-and-a-half-minute video in a Vienna hotel room on August 7, 2025, wearing a disguise and holding two pistols. In the video, he spoke of revenge against Israel for the "genocide in Gaza" and threatened that "blood will be shed," promising to send a "bloody message" to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Investigators found his fingerprints on weapons seized in Vienna, believed to be part of the same shipment.

Five pistols were hidden for weeks in a self-storage unit in Vienna's seventh district, rented under a false name and located near Jewish and Israeli institutions and transport routes. The weapons were found in a suitcase lined with aluminum foil, alongside cleaning supplies, indicating they were prepared for use. German authorities received intelligence from the Mossad in June 2025 about terror suspects involved in arms deals in Germany, leading them to monitor the network as they acquired weapons and ammunition across Europe.

The existence of the network and its attack plans were previously revealed, leading to charges against seven suspects in Germany for membership in Hamas and alleged preparation for attacks on Israeli, Jewish, and pro-Israel targets in Germany and Austria. The network allegedly acquired 13 pistols, an assault rifle, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Three suspects were arrested on October 1, 2025, during a weapons transfer, with further arrests in other European countries, totaling nine suspects. One of the accused, Mohammed S., was also an informant for Germany's domestic intelligence service, though the agency stated he was not activated for the attack plot.

European security officials note a shift in Hamas's activities in Europe, moving from primarily fundraising and logistics to actively establishing weapon caches, operating cells, and planning attacks. The revealed plot included ready-to-use weapons, inter-country transfers, potential targets, and a pre-recorded claim of responsibility video.