German Jewish communal leader targeted for death by Iranian regime, prosecutors say
Aman, named only as Ali S, was charged in Federal court, alongside a supposed accomplice believed to be involved in an attempt to target another individual
Criminal charges have been brought against an individual suspected of planning to kill one of the most prominent Jews in Germany on the orders of the Iranian regime, with an accomplice accused of involvement in a plan to kill a former German politician with strong links to pro-Israel advocacy.
Federal prosecutors in Frankfurt brought the charges against two men, identified only as Ali S and Tawab M, on Thursday afternoon. The former is understood to be a Danish national, arrested in Denmark in June last year. He is accused of working for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and more specifically the organisation’s Quds Force, which specialises in extraterritorial operations. The latter is believed to be an Afghani national. Ali S was charged with operating as a secret agent for the purposes of sabotage, as well as attempted participation in murder and arson, while Tawab M was charged with attempted participation in murder.
As reported by Reuters, prosecutors described how in early 2025, Ali S had been directed to gather information on the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, who is also a Vice President of the World Jewish Congress. Another target was the Chairman of the German-Israeli Society, former Green Party Bundestag Member Volker Beck, as well as two Jewish shop owners in Berlin.
The prosecutors said that “all of this was intended to facilitate the planning of murder and arson attacks in Germany.”
Reportedly, Ali S did original planning in Berlin early last year, looking for others who would participate in attacks. He was subsequently in contact with Tawab M, who is said to have been involved in a plan to kill Beck.
Ali S. was charged with working as an agent for an intelligence service, acting as a secret agent for purposes of sabotage and attempted participation in murder and arson. Tawab M. was charged with attempted participation in murder.
The Iranian regime has been linked with plans to target Jewish communities worldwide. Since the latest outbreak of the Israel-Iran war, Jewish community buildings and infrastructure has been targeted. Last year, the Australian security services identified the Iranian regime as having been behind a number of similar attacks against the Jewish community in Australia; the Iranian ambassador was subsequently expelled.
Following the announcement of the charges, the German-Israeli Society called on the German government to similarly expel the Iranian regime’s ambassador, as well as freezing assets linked to the regime’s eliminated supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
