Germany: raids target 3 suspected IS supporters; no arrests

Germany remains on high alert after a spate of violent incidents in recent weeks left 15 people dead and dozens injured.

The federal prosecutor’s office said that three people targeted are suspected of seeking members and supporters for IS since a year ago, news agency dpa reported.

The raids took place in the west German state of North Rhine-Westphalia this morning, the state’s criminal police said, and targeted the towns of Duisburg and Dortmund among others. One of them is suspected of providing financial and logistical support to the terrorist group, a spokeswoman said.

German special forces have arrested a suspected member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, local authorities said Tuesday (Aug 9), citing a threat to the opening game of the upcoming Bundesliga football championships.

A spokesman from the Rhineland-Palatinate interior ministry, cited by “Bild”, confirming the arrest.

Germany has been on edge since ISIL claimed responsibility for two attacks in the country last month in which multiple people were wounded and the assailants both killed.

No arrests been made on Wednesday.

In a statement to German tabloid Bild, it said there were “indications something was planned” for the start of Bundesliga – which is the German equivalent of the English Premier League – but did not elaborate further. He said they were part of a long-running investigation.