A major investigation by a leading Swiss newspaper claims Hamas spent years quietly building a terrorist network across Europe in preparation for a coordinated wave of attacks modeled after the October 7 massacre, with Israeli, Jewish, and Western targets reportedly in its crosshairs.

According to an investigative report published by Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Hamas established a clandestine infrastructure throughout Europe well before the October 7 attacks in Israel. The network allegedly included concealed weapons stockpiles, arms-smuggling operations, logistical support systems, and sleeper cells that could be activated at the direction of the group’s leadership.

Citing German security investigation files, the newspaper reported that German authorities believe Hamas intended to launch the planned attacks around the second anniversary of the October 7 massacre. Officials say the alleged plot was thwarted through intelligence gathering and coordinated arrests carried out in multiple European countries.

Investigators reportedly identified Hamas-related operations spanning Germany, Austria, Denmark, Britain, Greece, and Cyprus. Among the most significant discoveries was a cache of weapons uncovered in Austria last year that contained five loaded handguns, ten magazines, more than 100 rounds of ammunition, and several explosive devices.

The report identifies Vienna as the central logistical base for the network. Authorities arrested a 39-year-old British man in London in connection with the Austrian weapons cache, while investigators allege that 13 pistols, an AK-47 rifle, and more than 900 rounds of ammunition were moved through Denmark, Germany, and Austria. German courts have since convicted four Hamas operatives in connection with the operation.

According to the investigation, Hamas’s military wing secretly created an operational presence in Europe despite the organization’s longstanding assertions that its activities were confined to Israel, Gaza, and Judea and Samaria. Investigators say the network featured hidden arms depots, weapons-smuggling routes, and a system designed to rapidly activate terrorist cells once leadership gave the order.

The findings come as Germany’s Federal Prosecutor continues pursuing charges against Hamas members accused of establishing terrorist infrastructure throughout Europe. Prosecutors contend that the preparations began years before the October 7 massacre, reflecting what investigators describe as Hamas’s long-term strategy to extend its terrorist operations well beyond the Middle East.

{Matzav.com}