Former Hamas bodyguard convicted in Birmingham and wanted in Germany over alleged plot

A former Hamas bodyguard has been convicted in Birmingham of knife offences and is also wanted in Germany over an alleged plot to target Israelis or Jews in central Europe. Mohammed Alfatih, also known as Mohammed Naim, was found guilty on Friday of unlawful wounding, possession of two knives and criminal damage. He was cleared of the more serious charge of wounding with intent.

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The court heard that Alfatih, 40, attacked a bailiff outside his home in Birmingham last year while under surveillance by a counter-terrorism unit. Video shown during the two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court captured him lashing out with a knife at the broken window of a van on 14 October. The bailiff, Kevin Bucknall, suffered cuts to the head and needed hospital treatment.

Alfatih had denied the allegations, saying he acted in self-defence. German authorities have separately linked him to an alleged Hamas-related plot in central Europe. Prosecutors in Germany charged seven suspected Hamas members in September over an alleged plan to target Jews or Israelis in Germany or Austria around the second anniversary of the 7 October attack on Israel.

They said a person identified as "Mohammed A" played a prominent role in transporting and storing weapons, but was being prosecuted separately because he had been arrested in the UK and had not yet been returned to Germany. The German extradition request says Alfatih has a connection to Hamas's leadership. Authorities there also said he was believed to have produced a video in advance to take responsibility for the attack on behalf of the group.

The alleged plot was disrupted by Germany's domestic intelligence service after a tip-off from Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency. The case links a local violent offence in the UK with a wider cross-border terrorism investigation in Europe. Alfatih's background has also drawn attention in the case.

He was born in Germany, was granted asylum in the UK in 2015 and became a British citizen in 2020. Reporting restrictions had prevented him from being named during the Birmingham trial. He is the son of a senior Hamas official and had previously been photographed working for a former Hamas leader, according to the court reporting.

He is expected to be extradited to Germany after serving his sentence in the UK. What remains unclear is the timing of any transfer and how German prosecutors will proceed once he is returned. The broader case against the seven other suspects in Germany is continuing, and the allegations have not been tested in court there.

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