German police arrest suspected IS supporters

Federal prosecutors on Wednesday announced the arrests had been made following raids on several apartments in and around the city of Cologne. The whole operation involved about 240 police officers.

The men were allegedly part of a network which had supported militant groups in Syria, including the 'Islamic State' as well as Ahrar al-Sham and Junud al-Sham.

Prosecutors said one of those arrested, 58-year-old Mirza Tamoor B., is suspected of smuggling two fighters to Syria from Germany. He's also believed to have provided the groups with 3,200 euros ($4,000) and a vehicle.

A 31-year-old identified as Kais B.O. was suspected of recruiting three other potential fighters and helping them travel to Syria.

Police said the apartments of several other suspects were also searched. It's alleged they joined forces to burgle churches and schools and using the spoils to support the jihadist cause in Syria.

The 'Islamic State' group has shocked the world since claiming control of vast areas of northern Iraq and Syria over the past few months, declaring a 'caliphate' and imposing its radical interpretation of Islam. The deadly persecution by IS of the region's minority groups has led hundreds of thousands to flee.

German authorities have this year expressed increasing concern about the risks posed by citizens becoming radicalized to be jihadists in Iraq or Syria and the possible danger that they might plot attacks on their return.

se/es (AP, Reuters)