Media: Pro-Iran militants claim Munich attack

A pro-Iranian militant group has released a video claiming responsibility for a recent attack on an Israeli restaurant in Munich, as German security agencies work to verify the footage’s authenticity, Süddeutsche Zeitung reports.

The 29-second video, which surfaced online days after the explosion, purports to show the group “Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya” (Hayi) taking responsibility. If confirmed, it would mark the group’s first known attack on German soil. Counterterrorism experts say the organisation may have links to Iranian intelligence, though this remains unproven.

The footage opens with a written threat presented in German and Hebrew, warning against approaching “Zionist institutions.” It includes a map and image of the targeted restaurant, followed by stylised visuals such as a crosshair labelled “The Target,” set to militant-themed music. The video concludes with media-sourced clips showing forensic teams at the scene, alongside the group’s insignia.

German authorities, including the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, are examining the video. Officials caution that it contains no insider details, raising the possibility it could be the work of copycat actors. However, it was reportedly shared via Telegram channels associated with Iran-aligned networks.

According to US-based analyst Joe Truzman of the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, the video follows a pattern seen in recent claims attributed to the same group. He noted that earlier attacks were filmed directly by perpetrators, while newer releases rely on publicly available images and footage.

Similar videos have emerged following attacks on synagogues in Skopje and London in recent days, all featuring identical music, branding, and targeting imagery.

Investigators have already been exploring a potential link between the Munich incident and other recent attacks across Europe. Security analyst Hans-Jakob Schindler of the Counter Extremism Project said the method and timing of the Munich blast are consistent with the group’s known tactics: attacks carried out at night against Jewish sites, typically without causing casualties.

In Munich, the explosive devices were reportedly improvised using pyrotechnic materials. Witnesses told investigators that two men placed the devices against the restaurant’s windows at around 00:45 local time.

Surveillance footage indicates a gap of nearly a minute between the two detonations. A white vehicle was later seen leaving the scene, possibly heading north via Schwindstraße.

By Aghakazim Guliyev