‘We have to make clear to the Saudis that the time of looking away is over,’ the politician says.
Germany’s vice-chancellor has publicly accused Saudi Arabia of financing terrorists in the West.
Sigmar Gabriel claimed the country was funding mosques linked to extremism, which he said were becoming a threat to public security.
In an interview with German newspaper, Bild am Sonntag, Mr Gabriel said: “We have to make clear to the Saudis that the time of looking away is over.
“Wahhabi mosques all over the world are financed by Saudi Arabia.
“Many Islamists who are a threat to public safety come from these communities in Germany.”
While the allegation is not a new one, it is unusual for a European leader to directly speak out against the West’s key Arab ally, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saudi.
Wahhabism is described as a conservative branch of Sunni Islam and is the official religion of Saudi Arabia.
Isis and al-Qaeda are both considered to be inspired by Wahhabism.
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