The son of a former Hamas bodyguard for late leader Ismail Haniyeh was granted UK asylum and a British passport before being arrested in London over an alleged plot to attack Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe, according to a Sunday Times investigation cited by Israeli media. Prosecutors accuse him of moving weapons from Berlin to Vienna and recording a pre-prepared claim-of-responsibility video on behalf of Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades. He faces extradition to Germany.
A Sunday Times investigation has revealed that the son of Ismail Haniyeh's former Hamas bodyguard was granted UK asylum and citizenship, despite his family's documented terror ties, and is now accused of orchestrating a major terror plot against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe. The suspect, whose identity was initially protected by a 100-year anonymity order overturned by the newspaper, was arrested in London in November 2025 after the plot was uncovered with assistance from Mossad and German security services.
The suspect's father served as Haniyeh's personal bodyguard. Both the father and son reportedly received asylum and later British passports after moving to England in 2015. The son lived in a suburban English town, worked in IT, and changed his name multiple times, according to the investigation.
Prosecutors allege the suspect was a central figure in a Hamas cell planning attacks timed to the second anniversary of the October 7 massacre. He is accused of transporting handguns and ammunition from Berlin to Vienna and recording a pre-prepared claim-of-responsibility video on behalf of the Al-Qassam Brigades. He now faces extradition to Germany. The case has raised serious questions about UK asylum vetting procedures and the ability of Hamas-linked individuals to obtain Western citizenship.
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