BRIEF: German Police Raid Islamic Sites

BERLIN, Germany - On Wednesday German police officers raided 16 locations, including Islamic cultural centers and private homes in multiple cities.  The raids were conducted in connection with nine suspected radical Islamists accused of spreading extremist material and recruiting militants. 

The nine individuals are suspected of using the Internet and audio and video materials to encourage radicalism among ethnic minority Muslims and German converts to Islam.  None of the nine were arrested yesterday. 

One of the largest raids took place in Neu-Ulm, where a now-dissolved Islamic cultural center - Multi-Kultur-Haus - had been suspected of being a meeting point for radical Islamists.  The Multi-Kultur-Haus formally dissolved in 2005 to avoid a prohibition order, but police suspect members have remained covertly active.

None of the individuals detained have been charged.  Prosecutors, however, have said that terrorism charges are unlikely.  Rather, charges will likely center on forming a criminal groups, anti-constitutional pursuits, and sedition.

For more information, please see:

Deutsche Welle - Police Suspect Islamist Groups of Recruiting Militants - 23 April 2008

International Herald Tribune - 9 people detained as Germans raid Islamic centers - 23 April 2003