German authorities on Wednesday outlawed three organizations accused of fundraising for Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah , as Middle East tensions produced a ripple effect across much of Europe.
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Bans against German Lebanese Family, People for Peace and Give Peace came into effect but had already been pronounced in mid-April, according to Deutsche Welle.
German Police also conducted early morning raids at locations across seven German states, including Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Rhineland Palatinate.
"Those who support terrorism will not be safe in Germany, regardless of the garb in which their supporters appear, they will not find a place of retreat in our country," Interior Minister Horst Seehofer's spokesman said.
According to the Interior Ministry's assessment, the three banned groups collected donations for "martyr families" in Lebanon, including those who died fighting for Iran's Lebanese proxy.
In a well-worn tactic, German authorities accused the groups of attempting to hide their true aims, projecting an image of collecting funds for religious or humanitarian goals.
In 2020, Germany designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization and outlawed its activities on German soil.
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The country's domestic intelligence service estimates that there are approximately 1,000 members and supporters active within Germany.
Several European countries followed Germany's example in outlawing the Lebanese terrorist group, including Kosovo, Lithuania, Czechia and Slovenia.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
