A former Hamas bodyguard who was granted asylum in the UK has been found guilty of a knife attack on a bailiff outside his home in Birmingham, and is simultaneously wanted in Germany for an alleged plot to murder Jewish people.
Alfatih, 40, also known as Mohammed Naim, was found guilty by a majority verdict of unlawfully wounding bailiff Kevin Bucknall, possessing two knives and criminal damage. He was cleared of the more serious charge of wounding with intent. The jury was shown footage of him brandishing two large kitchen knives and trying to stab the bailiff as he drove away in October last year.
At the time of the attack, Alfatih was under surveillance by a counter-terror unit. During the trial he argued he was acting in self-defence, telling the court he was terrified and not in his full mind. His defence barrister said Alfatih had a heightened perception of danger, triggered by fear and desperation he had previously experienced. Alfatih told the court he had learned one of his brothers had been killed in Gaza the day before the attack, and said he had been tortured in Egypt.
The jury was not told of Alfatih's links to Hamas. Now the verdict is in, it can be reported that Alfatih was a bodyguard for the now-deceased former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. He is the son of a senior Hamas official, was granted asylum in the UK in 2015, and later gained British citizenship.
Details of an alleged plot in Germany have also emerged. German authorities allege Alfatih was an organiser of a plot to attack Jewish targets in Germany. Prosecutors said an alleged plot to target Jews or Israelis in Germany or Austria was planned around the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks. Authorities allege Alfatih was involved in moving weapons and had made a video in advance saying an attack was planned on behalf of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing. The plot was disrupted by Germany's domestic intelligence service after a tip-off from the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. Alfatih was born in Germany and is expected to be extradited there after his UK sentence.
Following the conviction, a government source called it a "staggering example of the loss of border control" under the previous Conservative government. A Home Office spokesperson said the government condemns those who support the activities of the proscribed terrorist organisation Hamas. Alfatih faces sentencing in Birmingham on 11 January.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case reveals significant gaps in the UK's asylum and citizenship vetting processes, allowing a former Hamas operative to gain entry and rights.
- It highlights the effectiveness of international intelligence cooperation (UK, Germany, Israel) but also the legal hurdles involved in extraditing suspects across borders.
- The alleged plot in Germany underscores a continued security threat to Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe emanating from Hamas and its affiliates.
Background
Mohammed Alfatih, formerly known as Mohammed Naim, served as a bodyguard for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh before being removed from the role. He spent time in Malaysia, Qatar and Turkey before arriving in the UK, where he was granted asylum in 2015 and later British citizenship. He is now wanted in Germany over an alleged plot to attack Jewish targets, which was discovered after a tip-off from Mossad.
Key Perspectives
- Government source: Called the conviction a "staggering example of the loss of border control" under the previous Conservative government.
- Alfatih's defence: Based on self-defence, arguing the attack was driven by fear and trauma, including the death of his brother in Gaza and his own past torture.
- Home Office: Stated that Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation and condemned those who support its activities.
What to Watch
- Sentencing of Alfatih in Birmingham on 11 January.
- The extradition process to Germany following the UK sentence.
- Potential legal developments in Germany regarding the alleged plot.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedAlfatih is a former Hamas bodyguard and is wanted in Germany over an alleged plot to murder Jewish people.BBC News: “A former Hamas bodyguard, wanted in Germany over an alleged plot to murder Jewish people, has been found guilty of a knife attack on a bailiff outside his UK home.”
- SupportedAlfatih was found guilty of a knife attack on a bailiff outside his home in Birmingham.UK news | The Guardian: “Details of the alleged plot can now be reported after Mohammed Alfatih, also known as Mohammed Naim, was found guilty on Friday of a knife attack on a bailiff outside his home in Birmingham.”
- SupportedAlfatih was convicted of unlawfully wounding the bailiff, possessing two knives and criminal damage, and cleared of wounding with intent.BBC News: “The 40-year-old was found guilty by majority verdict of unlawfully wounding a bailiff who had come to repossess his wife's car, possession of two knives and criminal damage. He was cleared of wounding with intent.”
- SupportedAlfatih, 40, was also known as Mohammed Naim.BBC News: “Mohammed Alfatih, previously known as Mohammed Naim”
- SupportedAlfatih was granted asylum in the UK in 2015 and later gained British citizenship.BBC News: “He was granted asylum in the UK in 2015 and British citizenship in 2021.”
- SupportedAlfatih was a bodyguard for former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.BBC News: “Jurors were not told of Alfatih's links to proscribed terrorist group Hamas or his work as a bodyguard to its now-deceased former leader Ismail Haniyeh.”
- SupportedGerman authorities allege Alfatih was an organiser of a plot to attack Jewish targets in Germany.BBC News: “It is alleged Alfatih was an organiser and was involved in the movement of weapons.”
- SupportedGerman prosecutors said the alleged plot targeted Jews or Israelis in Germany or Austria around the second anniversary of the 7 October attack.UK news | The Guardian: “German prosecutors charged seven suspected Hamas members in September over an alleged plot to target Jews or Israelis in Germany or Austria around the second anniversary of the 7 October attack on Israel.”
- SupportedGerman authorities allege Alfatih was involved in moving weapons and had made a video saying an attack was planned on behalf of Hamas’s military wing.BBC News: “German authorities also allege he had pre-recorded a video wearing a balaclava and sunglasses claiming the attack was planned on behalf of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.”
- SupportedThe alleged plot was disrupted after a tip-off from Mossad to Germany’s domestic intelligence service.UK news | The Guardian: “The attack was disrupted by Germany’s domestic intelligence service after a tipoff from the Mossad, Israel’s secret service.”
- SupportedA government source called the case a “staggering example of the loss of border control” under the previous Conservative government.UK news | The Guardian: “A government source said: “This is a staggering example of the loss of border control under the last Conservative government, who granted his asylum claim and gave him citizenship.””
- SupportedAlfatih is expected to be extradited to Germany after serving his UK sentence, and faces sentencing in Birmingham on 11 January.BBC News: “Alfatih, who was born in Germany, is expected to be extradited to the country after he has served his sentence in the UK.”