Two men arrested in Berlin on suspicion of terrorism

German police arrested on Friday two people for planning a terror attack outside Germany following overnight raids in Berlin on numerous properties linked to radical Islamists.

More than 200 police officers and special task forces raided suspected extremist hotspots in and around the country's capital early Friday, according to German media reports.

The two men, aged 41 and 43, were suspected of preparing "a serious act of violent subversion" in Syria. They are also accused of recruiting fighters for the Islamic State (IS) and funding them to leave for Syria.

According to the police, the 41-year-old man, identified as Ismet D., was leading an extremist group in Berlin. He is said to have carried out lessons that radicalized group members and convinced them to participate in attacks against "non-believers" in Syria.

Emin F., 43-year-old, was arrested for being in charge of the group's finances.

There was no indication that the suspects were planning attacks inside Germany, said a police spokesman.

German authorities said Friday's raids were part of a months-long investigation into a small group of extremists based in Berlin.

The bloodshed in Paris last week has raised concerns in Germany about its own security. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that her country would heighten security measures against terrorism following the attacks in France. Endit