Germany Summons Iranian Ambassador After Two Men Jailed Over Assassination Plot
A Danish national and an Afghan accomplice received prison sentences for planning attacks on prominent Jewish and pro-Israeli figures
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Germany summoned Iran’s ambassador on Monday after a court sentenced two men to prison for plotting to assassinate prominent Jewish and pro-Israeli figures and carry out arson attacks on behalf of Tehran, prompting Berlin to warn that it would not tolerate threats against its Jewish community.
The German Foreign Ministry said the ambassador had been summoned following Thursday’s convictions by a Hamburg court, describing the alleged operation as a “malicious” assassination plot and warning that Iran would not be allowed to threaten German society.
“The malicious assassination attempts ... will have legal consequences,” the ministry said in a statement on X. “We do not tolerate attacks on Jewish life and on those who defend it — anywhere, and certainly not in Germany.”
The court sentenced a Danish national, partially identified as Ali Hassan S., to eight and a half years in prison and an Afghan national, who was recruited as his accomplice, to four and a half years.
According to prosecutors, the Danish defendant worked directly for Iranian intelligence and was tasked with identifying and surveilling potential targets in Germany as part of preparations for assassinations and arson attacks.
The intended targets included Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and Volker Beck, head of the German-Israeli Society. Prosecutors also said the Danish national had planned to target a Jewish grocery shop in Berlin.
The Afghan defendant agreed to recruit a third person and provide him with a weapon for an assassination attempt against Beck, according to evidence presented in court.
The two men were arrested in Denmark last year before being extradited to Germany to face prosecution. In handing down the sentences, the judge described their actions as “terrorist activities orchestrated by Iran.”
Iran rejected the allegations when the men were initially charged. Its embassy in Berlin described the accusations as “unfounded allegations made at the behest of Iran’s enemies.”
Germany Raises Concerns Over Iranian Intelligence Activities
The case adds to longstanding concerns among German security authorities about alleged Iranian intelligence operations targeting Jewish communities, Israeli interests and individuals viewed by Tehran as opponents.
Germany’s domestic intelligence service has previously identified Jewish and pro-Israeli targets among the priorities of Iranian intelligence activities in the country. German authorities have also investigated previous cases involving alleged Iranian-backed attacks on Jewish institutions.
In December 2023, a German court convicted a man over an arson attack near a synagogue in Bochum, finding that the planned attack had originated with an Iranian state agency.
European security services have also warned that Iranian intelligence operations can involve intermediaries and recruited individuals rather than direct action by state officials.
A 2025 assessment by Danish security agencies identified a persistent threat to Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe and said Iran had used criminal networks and intermediaries to pursue such operations.
The latest convictions come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Western governments over security, intelligence activities and Tehran’s regional and international policies.
Berlin’s decision to summon the Iranian ambassador signals its diplomatic response to the court’s findings, as Germany reiterates its commitment to protecting Jewish life and preventing foreign-backed violence on its territory.