British man faces extradition to Germany, where he is wanted in connection with a Hamas-linked terror cell that allegedly plotted attacks on Jewish targets.
The 39-year-old suspect was arrested after the National Crime Agency received a request from German prosecutors.
The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court in central London the same day and was remanded in custody. He will appear again via video link.
Counterterrorism police in Germany became aware of the man during their investigation into a suspected terror plot. He is accused of overseeing the transportation of firearms into the country and allegedly met a member of the terror cell while under surveillance.
The development came one month after three men were arrested on suspicion of preparing acts of violence against Jewish targets in Germany on behalf of Hamas. The terrorist group has denied any connection to the three men.
Two of the suspects are German citizens and a third is Lebanese. All are accused of having procured firearms and ammunition since the summer to allegedly be used in the attacks, according to Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office.
The men, named as “Abed Al G”, “Wael F M” and “Ahmad I” in line with privacy laws, were arrested in Berlin the day before Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Raids took place in Leipzig and Oberhausen after the Berlin arrests.
The defendants have been charged with preparing a serious act of violence endangering the German state and membership of a foreign terrorist organisation.
Hamas called the allegations “baseless” and said they were designed to “undermine the German people’s sympathy for the Palestinian people”.
