- BERLIN: German authorities raided homes and religious schools connected to two extremist groups with suspected terrorist links on Tuesday morning, the Interior Ministry said.
The raids, in the western cities of Moenchengladbach, Braunschweig and Bremen, were aimed at the groups Invitation to Paradise and Islamic Culture Center Bremen, ministry spokesman Stefan Paris said in a statement.
The two are suspected of “working against the democratic order of Germany,” he added.
“It is necessary and important not to wait for a militant struggle in form of jihad before intervening against unconstitutional groups,” Paris said.
A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with department policy, said dozens of private homes were searched, as well as religious schools and a store belonging to Invitation to Paradise that sells face-covering veils for women and caftans for men.
Police said they seized evidence during the raids, but would not comment further.