German police
German policeiStock

German authorities on Thursday morning searched 54 locations across seven German federal states, DW reported, quoting the country's Interior Ministry.

All of the locations searched are connected to the Islamic Center of Hamburg (IZH).

According to a statement from the German Interior Ministry, IZH is suspected of "acting against constitutional order" and of "supporting [the] terror organization Hezbollah."

Hezbollah was outlawed in Germany in 2020, and three organizations believed to fundraise for it were outlawed in 2021.

DW noted that German intelligence sees IZH as an extension of the Iranian regime, and believe it exerts a powerful influence over, or possibly controls, certain mosques and associations within Germany.

The site quoted Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) as saying, "We do not tolerate Islamist propaganda or anti-Semitic and anti-Israel agitation."

"Now especially is the time to be on high alert and for a tough approach. This is why we are following every reasonable suspicion seriously."