Danish authorities arrested a citizen, referred to only as Ali S, on suspicion of gathering intelligence on Jewish locations and individuals in Berlin for Iran. This was confirmed by German and Danish officials on Tuesday. The arrest took place last Thursday in Alfs, Denmark, where he was reportedly monitored by Iran’s intelligence agency earlier this year.
Prosecutors claim that Ali S aimed to collect information about “Jewish regions and specific Jews” and had surveilled three locations in Berlin in June, possibly to prepare for a terrorist attack targeting Jewish sites.
Following these developments, Iran’s German ambassador, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, was called to the German Foreign Ministry. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadefel commented, stating that if the allegations are verified, it would highlight Iran as a significant threat to Jewish communities globally. He made these remarks while visiting a synagogue in Ukraine.
The Iranian embassy in Berlin has dismissed the accusations as baseless and referred to them as dangerous, suggesting they are a distraction from recent Israeli actions against Iran.
German security agencies have heightened their focus on protecting Jewish and Israeli sites, especially in light of recent hostilities between Israel and Iran. During that conflict, German leadership indicated readiness to defend against potential attacks on these communities.
Reports indicate that the suspect took photos of various Jewish centers and buildings linked to the German Central Council, which represents Jewish interests in Germany.
In a related statement, the German and Israeli Association urged the European Union to classify Iran’s revolutionary security forces as a terrorist group due to their increasing aggression.
Schuster, the president of the German Central Council, emphasized the need for the government to remain alert and actively oppose the Iranian regime, expressing concern over the potential terrorist intentions tied to the planned attack.
Ali S is currently being held in Germany after his extradition from Denmark and will face a judge in the Federal Court of Justice. He is expected to remain in custody until at least July 23, while further legal proceedings unfold.
