Hamas Weapons Depot Uncovered in Vienna Storage Room

In the course of investigations against a globally operating terrorist organization with ties to Hamas, a weapons cache has been uncovered in Vienna. It is suspected that the weapons were intended for possible terrorist attacks in Europe against Israeli or Jewish facilities, the Directorate of State Protection and Intelligence Service (DSN) announced on Thursday. A 39-year-old Briton was arrested as a suspect on Monday in London.

Arrested individual to be extradited to Germany

The arrest was made as part of internationally coordinated investigations. Five handguns and ten associated magazines were secured in a suitcase in a rented storage room in Vienna. The weapons cache is attributed to foreign operational structures of the terrorist organization Hamas, according to the DSN. The exact location of the seizure was not disclosed by the authorities due to ongoing investigations.

The man arrested on Monday in the United Kingdom is to be extradited to Germany, according to a report by the British TV channel ITV News. In early October, three suspected Hamas supporters were arrested there. The German Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses the three men of procuring weapons and ammunition for attacks on behalf of Hamas. According to the broadcaster, the British citizen arrested on Monday is the son of a leading Hamas representative.

"Zero tolerance towards terrorists"

"The current case once again shows: The Directorate of State Protection and Intelligence Service is excellently networked internationally and consistently acts against all forms of extremism. The mandate is clear: zero tolerance towards terrorists," emphasized Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) according to a press release. State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ) added: "The committed actions and careful investigative work of the DSN have significantly contributed to this successful weapons discovery - a strong sign of their professionalism and their commitment to the safety of our fellow citizens."

FPÖ rages: Vienna as a security risk for Europe

The FPÖ expressed strong criticism in an initial reaction to the "red-pink welcoming culture," which has "ultimately made Vienna a security risk for all of Europe." "While the SPÖ and their pink allies lose themselves in multicultural dreams, pistols, magazines, and assault rifles for possible attacks are stored in the middle of our city," said FPÖ Vienna leader City Councilor Dominik Nepp on Thursday in a press release. "The much-praised integration of recent years by SPÖ, NEOS, and Greens has obviously failed spectacularly. The reality is parallel societies where political Islam can spread unhindered."

(APA/Red)

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