Hamas Weapons Cache Uncovered in Bulgaria: Planned for Attacks on Jewish Institutions Across Europe

In Bulgaria, a suspected Hamas weapons cache was uncovered as part of a German investigation into four individuals linked to the Palestinian Islamic movement. These suspects were allegedly planning attacks against Jewish institutions across Europe, a judicial source revealed on Thursday. The source confirmed to AFP that the weekly magazine Der Spiegel reported the discovery.

On December 14, the German federal prosecutor’s office, which focuses on terrorism cases, revealed the apprehension of four men in Berlin under suspicion of amassing weapons for potential attacks. According to Der Spiegel, federal criminal police discovered photographs on the cellphone of one suspect showcasing an array of firearms, ammunition, magazines, and other weapon components.

Using digital traces from these photos, investigators managed to locate a cache of weapons in southern Bulgaria, which Bulgarian police subsequently seized, according to Der Spiegel.

Seit die Polizei vor Weihnachten vier mutmaßliche Hamas-Terroristen festnahm, sind Staatsschützer und Politiker alarmiert. Fotos auf einem Handy führten die Fahnder inzwischen zu einem Waffenversteck. https://t.co/PbwPVZXrbH

— DER SPIEGEL (@derspiegel) April 4, 2024

Authorities in Sofia, including the prosecutor’s office and the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior, declined to confirm this information when contacted by AFP. Three of the four suspected Hamas members, an Egyptian national and two born in Lebanon, were apprehended in Berlin. The fourth suspect, a Dutch national, was arrested in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

According to the German federal prosecutor’s office, one of the suspects had been assigned by Hamas, since at least spring 2023, to locate an underground weapons depot in Europe, hidden by the organization in the mountains. He received instructions from senior Hamas officials based in Lebanon.

“The weapons were intended to be transported to Berlin and made available for potential attacks against Jewish institutions across Europe,” the prosecution stated.

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Bulgarian news article: Source Свободна Европа

In a plastic bag under a tree. Have Hamas weapons been found in Bulgaria?

In Bulgaria, buried weapons have been discovered, while suspected Hamas members have been apprehended in Germany. What’s the connection?

In mid-December, three individuals crossed from Poland into Germany, appearing suspicious with shovels and soil-stained clothes, claiming to have gone for a short trip to Poland for cheaper fuel but stopping at a gas station right after crossing the border.

Subsequently, German authorities arrested the trio, and a fourth individual was detained in Rotterdam. They stand accused of searching for a buried Hamas weapons cache in Poland, with intentions to use these weapons in attacks against Jews in Germany.

Following their arrest, German security services commenced a search for the weapons depot in Poland, but to no avail.

However, over three months later, Bulgaria entered the narrative. Several German media outlets reported the discovery of a buried weapons cache in Southern Bulgaria, believed to have been concealed by Hamas for attacks against Jews in Western Europe.

While not officially confirmed by German authorities, several reputable German media outlets published this information, each citing independent sources. All this unfolds against the backdrop of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which escalated following Hamas’ significant attack on October 7.

Efforts to clarify the situation involved contacting Bulgarian authorities for confirmation and additional information. However, as of publication, responses from Bulgarian authorities have been elusive.

Who are the detainees in Germany?

It is alleged that Hamas’s military wing instructed the four detainees in Lebanon to locate an underground weapons depot in Europe, transport the weapons to Berlin, and be ready to use them in potential attacks against Jewish institutions.

In January, Israeli authorities, amid their conflict with Hamas, released information about a suspected Hamas network in Europe.

German media outlet Tagesschau reported that three of the detainees had been long-term residents in Germany, with the fourth being a Dutch citizen. It is also speculated that at least one of them had close ties to Khalil al-Haraz, a former deputy commander of Hamas’ Lebanese wing, killed in an Israeli drone strike a few months ago.

What have German authorities found?

Spiegel reports that the Federal Criminal Police Office found images of several firearms, magazines, and other weapon parts on one detainee’s phone. Following digital traces from these images, investigators located several firearms buried in a nylon bag beneath a tree in Southern Bulgaria.

Spiegel and the German public broadcaster ARD even published photos from the phone allegedly showing the items found in the bag in Bulgaria—a pistol and magazines.

Suspicions also linger about a Hamas depot in Poland, where the detainees had traveled several times, although no evidence has been found yet. In recent days, German investigators have been searching weapon depots across Europe, with several unsuccessful attempts in Poland, alongside Polish police.

What do we know about the Bulgarian connection?

Tagesspiegel, citing AFP, reports that Bulgarian police seized the weapons, with some already showing signs of rusting. However, these claims have yet to be officially confirmed by Bulgarian authorities.

Last month, contact was established between German and Bulgarian authorities regarding this matter. Additionally, on March 28, a warehouse with a significant arsenal was discovered near Yambol.

However, prosecutors told Radio Free Europe that they neither confirm nor deny a link between the operation in Yambol and what was reported in German media.

Following Hamas’ extensive attacks on Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 240 hostages, Europe witnessed a rise in attacks on Jews. German authorities have been preparing for heightened security measures since October. The Gaza conflict has been ongoing for six months.