BERLIN: German police raided five sites linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, when authorities announced Thursday that they were banning the activities of its political wing in Germany.
The raids, aimed at avoiding evidence of possible destruction of front organizations, took place in mosques and community centers in Berlin, Bremen, Münster, Recklinghausen and Dortmund.
German lawmakers last year called on the government to extend an existing ban on the activities of the group's militant wing to include those of its political branch. At the time, officials had warned that such a move was legally difficult, because Hezbollah has no official presence in Germany.
The Interior Ministry said the decree issued on Thursday prohibits all activities in support of the group in Germany, including the use of its symbols or publications. Hezbollah supporters have organized annual anti-Israel marches in Berlin for several years.
The United States and Israel welcomed Germany's move against the group, which is rooted in Lebanon's Shiite community and has close ties to Iran.
United States Ambassador Richard Grenell called on other European Union countries to also ban Hezbollah activities, saying that "the group cannot be allowed to use Europe as a safe haven to support terrorism in Syria and in the entire Middle East. "
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Twitter that "Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and should be treated as such." Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 that ended in a UN-negotiated ceasefire.
The raids, aimed at avoiding evidence of possible destruction of front organizations, took place in mosques and community centers in Berlin, Bremen, Münster, Recklinghausen and Dortmund.
German lawmakers last year called on the government to extend an existing ban on the activities of the group's militant wing to include those of its political branch. At the time, officials had warned that such a move was legally difficult, because Hezbollah has no official presence in Germany.
The Interior Ministry said the decree issued on Thursday prohibits all activities in support of the group in Germany, including the use of its symbols or publications. Hezbollah supporters have organized annual anti-Israel marches in Berlin for several years.
The United States and Israel welcomed Germany's move against the group, which is rooted in Lebanon's Shiite community and has close ties to Iran.
United States Ambassador Richard Grenell called on other European Union countries to also ban Hezbollah activities, saying that "the group cannot be allowed to use Europe as a safe haven to support terrorism in Syria and in the entire Middle East. "
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Twitter that "Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and should be treated as such." Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 that ended in a UN-negotiated ceasefire.
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