German official: 'Shariah police' won't be tolerated after group patrols in city

BERLIN – Senior officials in Germany say the government will try to ban a group of Muslim extremists calling themselves "Shariah police" who told people to refrain from drinking alcohol in the western city of Wuppertal.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told Bild newspaper on Saturday that "Shariah law will not be tolerated in Germany."

Wuppertal police reported earlier this week that a group of young Muslim men, clad in orange vests that had the words "Shariah police" printed on the back, had patrolled some parts of the city repeatedly asking people to stop drinking alcohol or visiting nightclubs.

The interior ministry of North-Rhine Westphalia, where Wuppertal is located, on Saturday ordered the confiscation of the orange vests. Shariah is a strict brand of Islamic law.