07/05/2026
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07/05/2026
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BERLIN, May 7: German intelligence officials have privately warned that the threat of Iran-linked attacks inside Germany is more serious than the government has publicly stated, according to senior German officials cited by The New York Times.
The report said state intelligence agencies have urged political leaders to issue stronger public warnings about possible operations connected to the Islamic Republic, particularly during the current regional conflict.
A spokesman for Germany’s Interior Ministry told the newspaper that evidence of Iranian plots in Germany “has increased” and that authorities are investigating planned operations allegedly linked to Tehran, including threats against Iranian government critics living in Germany.
According to the report, European intelligence agencies had identified around 50 suspected plots tied to Iran-connected underground networks operating in Germany even before the war began.
Israeli and Jewish Targets Under Concern
German officials reportedly said many of Iran’s most prominent targets in the country are Jewish institutions. Two such institutions are believed to be the focus of current plots linked to Iran’s leadership, according to the newspaper.
Investigators are also examining whether Iranian proxies were involved in an attack last month on an Israeli restaurant in Munich. In that incident, assailants allegedly smashed windows and threw explosive devices into the building after hours.
Threats Against Iranian Dissidents
The report also said German officials believe Iranian intelligence officers threatened and assaulted anti-government protesters during a large demonstration in Munich earlier this year.
Authorities are said to be closely monitoring threats against critics of Tehran, including activists and dissidents who have continued to speak out against the Iranian government from Germany.
Links to Organized Crime
German intelligence services have also detected what officials described as a growing connection between Iranian agents and organized crime networks in recent years.
According to the report, suspected links include contacts with biker gangs, human traffickers and European criminals with Iranian roots. Two officials said Iranian agents have at times approached such criminals because they were viewed as easier to recruit for covert operations.
The alleged rise in Iran-linked activity has raised concern among German security officials that Tehran may be increasingly willing to use criminal networks and proxy groups to target opponents and Israeli or Jewish sites in Europe.