German police search mosque, houses in anti-terror raid

BERLIN

German police conducted raids in seven houses and a mosque in Berlin on Tuesday as part of an investigation into a group allegedly supporting terror networks in Syria.

Berlin police spokesman Stefan Redlich said police and prosecutors searched Ibrahim-Al-Khalil-Moschee in Berlin’s Tempelhof-Schoneberg district.

“These raids are part of an investigation into suspected preparations for serious acts of violent subversion. This is about attacks planned in Syria, and efforts to recruit fighters to carry out these attacks,” Redlich said.

About 400 police officers, including SWAT units, took part in the sweep in the German capital early on Tuesday morning. No arrests were made during the raids on Tuesday.

Police said a 51-year-old Moroccan was suspected of recruiting people in Germany to join extremist groups in Syria and fight against the regime forces there.

During the raids, prosecutors also looked for evidence in relation to a 19-year-old Macedonian, who is believed to have joined extremist groups in Syria, and is currently fighting there.

The police spokesman added there was no evidence of a plan for an attack in Germany.