German prosecutors accuse Birmingham man of aiding planned attacks on Jewish targets in Europe

German prosecutors accuse Mohammed Alfatih, a former bodyguard to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh who lives in Birmingham, of helping prepare attacks on Jewish or Israeli targets in Europe. He is alleged to have transported weapons from Berlin to Vienna and recorded a video intended to claim responsibility; he is due to face extradition proceedings in Germany. The case has raised questions about how he was able to settle in Britain despite his reported links to Hamas.

Alfatih, an IT consultant and father of four, was granted asylum in 2015 after citing persecution in Egypt, and told jurors he later obtained British citizenship. German prosecutors say he was part of a network of at least eight operatives and held a trusted role in Haniyeh’s security team around 2006. Police reportedly found the alleged confession video on an SD card and a red polo shirt at his home; the article also says seven other suspects are in German custody. Alfatih was separately convicted over an attack on a bailiff outside his home.