German authorities banned a group Tuesday accused of raising millions for the Lebanese militant organisation Hezbollah and staged raids across the country against its members. The interior ministry said it had outlawed the "Waisenkinderprojekt Libanon" (Orphan Children Project Lebanon) with immediate effect. "The name of the group masks its actual purpose," ministry state secretary Emily Haber said in a statement.
She said the organisation, based in the western city of Essen, had raised 3.3 million euros ($4.6 million) in donations between 2007 and 2013 for the Lebanese Shahid Foundation, an "integral" part of Hezbollah. The ministry said the funds were used to recruit fighters "to combat Israel, also with terrorist measures" and compensate the families of suicide bombers. "Organisations that directly or indirectly from German soil oppose the state of Israel's right to exist may not seek freedom of association protection," Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in the statement.
He said the group's goals violated Germany's constitution. Around 160 police officers searched premises across six states and confiscated cash, computers and 120 boxes of files. Two bank accounts with a total of around 104,000 euros were frozen but no arrests were made.
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