German authorities have taken two men into custody following a series of police raids in Berlin.
Police said the raids, involving the search of 11 properties by 250 police officers, were part of a monthslong investigation into a small group of militants suspected of "preparing a serious act of violence against the state in Syria" and money laundering.
One of the arrested, identified as 41-year-old Ismet D., is suspected of leading the group made up largely of "Turkish and Russian nationals from Chechnya and Daghestan" -- two regions in Russia's North Caucasus.
Emin F., 43, is accused of being in charge of finances.
Police said there were no indications that the group had been planning attacks in Germany.
The raids came hours after Belgian police killed two men during similar raids against an Islamist group.
