Germany Charges 2 Men Over Iran-Backed Plot to Kill Jewish Leaders
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 21
Germany Charges 2 Men Over Iran-Backed Plot to Kill Jewish Leaders
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 21
German federal prosecutors charged Danish citizen Ali S. and Afghan citizen Tawab M. with plotting murders and arson against Jewish and Israeli community figures in Germany on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
The indictment says Ali S. traveled to Berlin in spring 2025 to scout targets and recruit attackers, while Tawab M. agreed to procure a weapon for an unidentified third man.
Volker Beck, head of the German-Israeli Society, was named as an intended target alongside Central Council of Jews president Josef Schuster and two Jewish grocers.
Both men were arrested in Denmark last year and extradited to Germany, where prosecutors say Ali S. had close ties to the Quds Force, the Guards’ foreign-operations unit.
The case adds to European concern over rising Iranian intelligence activity after the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and is likely to intensify pressure on Berlin to harden its response.
Did the U.S.-Israeli war unleash a more unpredictable and dangerous global terror campaign from a cornered Iran?
With the Strait of Hormuz shut, is the world economy heading for a recession fueled by $200 oil?
Iranian State-Sponsored Terrorism in Europe: Germany Files Charges in Foiled Plot Against Jewish Leaders
Overview
On May 21, 2026, German federal prosecutors charged Ali S. and Tawab M. for allegedly plotting to assassinate Jewish leaders on behalf of Iran, following Ali S.'s arrest in 2025. This investigation gained momentum and led to a diplomatic incident, with Iran's ambassador summoned and the Iranian Embassy denying any attack plans. Despite these denials, German authorities underscored their conviction about foreign involvement. The indictment, which highlighted the grave nature of the plot, also led to increased security for potential targets like Volker Beck, reflecting the serious threat posed to the Jewish community and national security.