German police have conducted raids in seven states over the Islamic Center of Hamburg's suspected support for Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the interior ministry said.
Authorities searched more than 50 properties connected to the center whose activities are suspected of violating Germany's constitutional order.
The raids, which also targeted five other associations believed to be subgroups of the center, were aimed at securing evidence as part of the ministry's investigation, the authorities said.
"I want to make clear that we are acting against Islamists, not against a religion or another state," said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
"But we have the Islamist scene in our sights," she said.
"The suspicions against the Islamic Center of Hamburg are serious," and it has long been monitored by the domestic intelligence agency for Islamist activities, said Faeser.
"Especially now, when many Jews feel particularly threatened, we do not tolerate Islamist propaganda or anti-Semitic and anti-Israel hate speech," added Faeser.
Since Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, German authorities have cracked down on pro-Palestinian groups.
On Nov. 2, Faeser implemented a formal ban on activity by or in support of Hamas and dissolved Samidoun, a group that was behind a celebration of Hamas’ attack on Israel, following up on a pledge made by Chancellor Olaf Scholz shortly after the attack.
