Report: Haniyeh’s former bodyguard granted British citizenship, later plotted attack against Jews
A former bodyguard of slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was granted British citizenship and later plotted an attack against Jews in Europe, according to a report published Saturday by Britain’s Sunday Times.
The investigation found that the man, who previously served as Haniyeh’s bodyguard, was granted asylum and subsequently full British citizenship after passing the authorities’ security screening procedures.
According to the report, the man lived in England and had previously been involved in smuggling activities. He was later implicated in a major terror plot that was foiled last year and allegedly sought to target Jews in Berlin or Vienna.
A British court recently lifted an anonymity order that had protected his identity for 100 years, allowing details about him to be made public.
The revelations have sparked political and public controversy in Britain over alleged failures in the Home Office’s vetting and screening procedures, amid continuing efforts to combat Hamas-linked networks operating across Europe and repeated warnings of potential attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets on the continent.
