Authorities raid mosque in Germany

Authorities raid mosque in Germany

BERLIN

Authorities in northern Germany say police have raided a mosque believed to be a “hot spot” for Islamic extremists in the city of Hildesheim.

The interior ministry of Lower Saxony state said that the apartments of eight leading members of the “German-speaking Islam Circle Hildesheim” organization were also searched Wednesday, news agency dpa reported.

The state’s interior minister, Boris Pistorius, said that “after months of preparation we have taken an important step with the searches conducted today toward a ban on the group.”

Authorities suspect that Muslims were radicalized in the organization and motivated to take part in jihad. Pistorius said there had been calls for “hatred toward infidels” in sermons and seminars.

Cops to protest over Black Lives Matter sign at city hall

SOMERVILLE, Mass.

The mayor of a Massachusetts city says he won’t remove a Black Lives Matter banner hanging over city hall even as police officers from across the state intend to rally against it.

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, a Democrat who is white, said Wednesday that standing up for minority residents and supporting police officers aren’t “competing interests.”

He noted the city also has a banner over police headquarters honoring the officers slain in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Dallas in retaliation over police killings of black citizens.

The city police union and other Massachusetts officers plan to rally against the banner today after Curtatone denied an earlier request to replace it with an “All Lives Matter” banner.

The Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition says it opposes the “exclusionary message” the current banner sends.

Coast Guard rescues 4 boaters

KEY WEST, Fla.

The United States Coast Guard rescued four boaters a day after they failed to return home from a snorkeling trip off Key West.

The Coast Guard reported on social media that a rescue crew reached the missing vessel around 5 p.m. Wednesday, about 40 miles northwest of Key West. All four people onboard were reportedly in good health. A Coast Guard plane spotted the boat earlier Wednesday following a search that covered nearly 4,000 square miles by air and sea.

The Coast Guard previously reported that the boaters left Banana Bay Resort in a 25-foot boat on Tuesday for a snorkeling trip about 6 miles north of Key West.

A concerned family member contacted the Coast Guard Tuesday evening. Missing were 48-year-old David Thompson, 28-year-old Adam Kelley, 15-year-old Joshua Thompson and 11-year-old Evan Thompson.

Associated Press