Police raid IS suspects across Germany
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 November 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Police raid IS suspects across Germany, 15 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a247a.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
November 15, 2016
German police stand in front of the Al-Taqwa Mosque during a search in Hamburg on November 15.
German authorities have launched simultaneous raids on mosques, apartments, and offices in 10 states against suspected supporters of the Islamic State (IS) group.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on November 15 that police raided about 190 places in western Germany and also in Berlin, seizing documents and files belonging to members and supporters of the group Die wahre Religion (DWR, The True Religion).
Nobody was detained.
De Maiziere said DWR had now been banned, and that it used the promotion of Islam as a pretext to spread "messages of hate and conspiracy theories" with the aim of recruiting militants.
The minister noted that after participating in a Koran distribution campaign organized by the group, "140 young people travelled to Syria and Iraq where they joined the fight with terrorist groups."
However, there was no indication it was planning attacks itself.
There was no immediate statement from DWR.
Based on reporting by dpa, Reuters, AFP, and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
