German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere praised on Wednesday the arrest of a terrorist cell that plotted to attack mosques and refugee shelters in Germany.

German police have arrested four people suspected of plotting to attack Muslims and asylum seekers.

Prosecutors said that three men and one woman were accused of founding a far-right group and procuring explosives.

They added that a previously unknown group, the "Old Schools Society", had been planning to attack mosques and hostels for asylum seekers.

The suspects were arrested in raids across five German states involving some 250 investigators.