Austria: Intelligence Uncovers Weapons Cache Linked to 'Hamas' in Vienna

SadaNews - The Austrian government announced today, Thursday, that the country's domestic intelligence agency has uncovered a weapons cache in Vienna believed to be linked to the Palestinian group 'Hamas'. The weapons were reportedly intended for use in 'potential terrorist attacks in Europe'.

A statement from the Austrian Ministry of the Interior indicated that a 39-year-old British citizen, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested last Monday in London on suspicion of having 'close connections to the weapons cache'.

The statement added: 'Based on the current state of the investigation, Israeli or Jewish institutions in Europe were likely targeted in those attacks'.

The statement explained that the weapons cache and the suspect are linked to a coordinated international investigation conducted by the Austrian Security and Intelligence Directorate regarding a 'global terrorist organization with ties to Hamas'.

The Austrian Ministry of the Interior stated that during the course of the investigations, its intelligence agency found 'suspicion of a group's involvement in bringing weapons into Austria for use in potential terrorist attacks in Europe'.

Later on Thursday, the German Federal Prosecutor's Office announced that the suspect's name is Muhammad A., in accordance with the privacy regulations in effect in the country.

The German Federal Prosecutor's Office stated in its announcement that Muhammad A. met twice with Abd al-Gi, who was arrested in Germany last month on suspicion of planning attacks targeting Israeli or Jewish institutions in the country.

The announcement from the German Federal Prosecutor's Office stated that: 'During these two meetings, Muhammad A. received five firearms and ammunition from Abd al-Gi, and then transported the weapons to Austria and stored them in Vienna. These actions were intended to prepare for terrorist attacks targeting Israeli or Jewish facilities in Germany'.

The announcement noted that the suspect 'after being transferred from the United Kingdom' will appear before an investigating judge in the Federal Court in Germany.

The weapons cache, believed to be linked to unspecified external operations associated with Hamas, was found inside a bag in a rented storage room in Vienna, containing five firearms and ten ammunition magazines.