According to Israeli authorities, Hamas is said to have planned several attacks in Europe and, among other things, to have tried to acquire drones, writes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s staff in a press release.
The Israeli embassy in Sweden is the only attack specifically mentioned.
“A comprehensive and in-depth picture of Hamas terrorist activities has been revealed, including details of areas of operation, targets of attacks and those involved in their execution (…), as well as information on the intention to attack Israel’s embassy in Sweden, acquisition of UAVs and use of elements from criminal organizations in Europe,” it says, among other things.
Specific man is singled out
Säpo does not want to comment on Israel’s data for TV4 Nyheterna.
– I can’t go in and comment on those details at all, says press spokesperson Fredrik Hultgren-Friberg.
Have you received information about a planned attack?
– We have ongoing close cooperation with a number of other countries’ counterparts, but we never go out and talk about how that cooperation looks linked to individual countries.
Israel also singles out a man with connections to Sweden who is said to be part of the Hamas leadership structure.
– We don’t go in and talk about individuals, says Fredrik Hultgren-Friberg.
Hamas: That is a lie
Hamas denies the alleged plans.
– This is a lie. Hamas has never carried out operations outside of Palestine, says the spokesman for Hamas in Lebanon, Walid Kilany, to NRK.
He believes that the Israeli government is trying to create fear among Europeans, as a way to shift focus from the war in Gaza.
Expert: “It will get worse”
On December 14, several people were arrested in Denmark suspected of terrorist plots, linked to Hamas. A total of seven people are being investigated.
A planned crime in Sweden would be part of an ongoing crime, says terrorism researcher Magnus Ranstorp to TT:
– In the past, the terrorist group has not acted outside the Middle East, but with the terrorist cells in Germany and Denmark, we see a new situation. This is not something that will go away anytime soon, it will only get worse.
“Takes data seriously”
Israel and Palestine expert Anders Persson assesses the data as probable.
– I take the information seriously. There is no reason to distrust them, Israel and Sweden have good relations. It doesn’t surprise me that they aimed at Sweden, says Persson to TT.
– At the same time, it would be news if Europe has become a playing field for Hamas. As far as I know, this is the first time that Hamas members have been arrested for planning terrorist acts in Europe. The same applies to Hamas’s finances: then it is usually Iran, Qatar, Turkey and Sudan that are singled out as countries where a person or groups have been active.
Connection to criminal groups
What would also be new is whether drones have been planned to be used in attacks in Europe.
– Israel’s embassy is protected on Djurgården, the place was built to prevent attacks. But whether it can withstand drones is unclear, says Persson.
The averted terror plans could mean a new chapter for the fight against terrorism in Europe, Anders Persson fears.
– In the worst of all worlds, there could be a new phase in the war against terrorism. The Palestinian cause has many supporters in Europe and some of them are radical so you can recruit from those groups. It must also be remembered that there is a connection to criminal networks and it is something that security police in Europe have warned about for many years. Where al-Qaeda was phase one and IS phase 2, Hamas constitutes phase three.
UD: “Very seriously”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tight-lipped about the information.
“Sweden takes its commitments under the Vienna Convention to protect foreign embassies very seriously. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not comment on security aspects concerning individual missions. It is the police authority that is primarily responsible for the security of foreign missions,” writes Sofie Westling at the Foreign Ministry’s press service.