Terror police conduct pre-dawn raids across Germany looking for Islamic State members
Police in the states of Saxony, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin have searched homes in a series of raids.
Wednesday 10 May 2017 12:57, UK
Terror police have carried out a series of raids in search of Islamic State members in four federal states across Germany.
Officers raided homes in pre-dawn operations in the eastern city of Leipzig in Saxony on Wednesday.
Similar raids were carried out in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin and Bavaria - but there are conflicting reports about whether any arrests were made.
A police spokeswoman said the searches related to three people suspected of links to IS.
Two of the suspects are accused of membership of IS, while the third is suspected of supporting a terrorist organisation. Two are also accused of weapons violations.
German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said the raids showed that country's security forces "are prepared to strike" against the threat of international terrorism.
The federal prosecutions office said the suspects are believed to be connected to a suspected IS militant arrested near Leipzig less than a week ago.
According to media reports, the 29-year-old Syrian national, identified only as Ahmad A, was arrested by heavily armed police during a driving lesson.
He had allegedly pledged allegiance to the terrorist organisation in 2013 and had fought in Syria for several years.
Police believe the suspects are also connected to a Syrian arrested in 2016 who was thought to be planning a bombing attack in Dusseldorf.