British citizen arrested over alleged European attack plot

A British citizen identified in reports as Mr X was arrested in London in November 2025 over an alleged plot to attack Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe, after receiving asylum and citizenship in the United Kingdom, according to reporting about a Times investigation. He has not been convicted, and the allegations do not establish what British officials knew about his background when they made immigration decisions. German prosecutors reportedly accuse Mr X of transporting five pistols and ammunition from Berlin to a storage facility in Vienna for planned attacks. The alleged targets included Jewish institutions and Israeli-related sites in Germany or Austria. One account of the indictment also said the weapons haul included woollen hats, neck warmers and gloves. The reports describe the alleged operation as part of a wider investigation involving suspected Hamas operatives. Mr X is described in the reporting as a former bodyguard of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. He reportedly received refugee status in Britain and later became a British citizen. Accounts differ on the timing of his arrival and asylum: one says he came to Britain by 2015, while another says he arrived in 2015.