Merkel Warned: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait & Qatar funding Extremists inside Germany

Local Editor

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar are providing support and funding for mosques, preachers and faith schools under the Wahhabism.

Intelligence reports compiled for Angela Merkel's government provide fresh proof of the role of foreign money in propping up extremist groups deep inside Europe.

More than 9,000 people have links to ‘Salafism' in Germany but many more could be converted, officials warned in the reports seen by newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.

The German government is now facing calls to respond to the growing threat posed by Wahhabism.

MP and Middle East expert Rolf Mützenich said: "The danger is real and shouldn't be underestimated.

"For quite some time we've had indications and evidence that German Salafists are getting assistance, which is approved by the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, in the form of money, the sending of imams and the building of schools and mosques."

He told Deutsche Welle: "The best way of preventing refugees from being radicalized is speedy and successful integration. To achieve that we need professional prevention and de-radicalization programs.

"That means more money and resources for specialists in schools, government administration, police, youth welfare organizations, prisons and reform schools."

German police have launched a crackdown on extremists with a series of raids this year aimed at disrupting terrorist networks.

In August armed police arrested a man with extremist links who is suspected of planning a bomb attack on a festival.

The 27-year-old was said to have links to Wahhabism and was believed to have been storing material in his flat ahead of a planned attack.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team