BERLIN, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- German police launched a coordinated raid in five states Wednesday morning, arresting 14 people police suspect of being engaged in Islamic extremist activities, reports in the German press say.

    The reports say about 700 police and special forces searched 50homes, shops and mosques in the states of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Hessen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Berlin and Bavaria.

    Those arrested, mostly Algerians and Tunisians, are alleged to belong to a group of Islamic extremists in Germany, the reports said.

    Police believe the group has been involved in falsifying documents, trafficking humans, supporting other Islamic groups and recruiting for Islamic Jihad (holy war).

    Among the 14, seven were arrested in Baden-Wuerttemberg, three in Nordrhein-Westfalen, two in Hessen and one each in Berlin and Bavaria. Enditem