Europe cracks down: Four alleged Hamas members arrested for suspected terrorism plot

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BERLIN, Germany. German and Dutch authorities have arrested four individuals suspected of being members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, allegedly involved in planning terrorist attacks on European soil. The arrests were announced by Germany’s federal prosecutor in a statement released on Thursday.

Three of the suspects were apprehended in Germany, while the fourth was arrested in the Netherlands. The individuals are believed to have been plotting attacks on Jewish institutions across Europe, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, speaking in Brussels to Danish broadcaster TV 2, described the incident as “about as serious as it can be.” He emphasized the presence of individuals in Denmark who harbor ill intentions, opposing Danish societal values of happiness, democracy, freedom, and equality.

The arrests follow warnings from the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, who highlighted the increased polarization within European society due to the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. Johansson expressed concern about the “huge risk” of potential terror attacks in the European Union during the holiday season.

To address this risk, Johansson announced the allocation of $32 million to enhance security measures for public spaces, including places of worship, during the holiday season. The funds are aimed at ensuring the safety of citizens and preventing potential terrorist threats during this period of heightened tension.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.