Sven Lau: Islamist preacher faces Syria charges in Germany Published duration 6 September 2016

image copyright Getty Images image caption Mr Lau is known in ultra-conservative, Salafist Muslim circles in Germany

An Islamist preacher suspected of leading self-styled "Sharia police" patrols in a German city is going on trial in Duesseldorf.

Sven Lau - a 35-year-old Muslim convert - is accused of supporting the Jamwa group of Islamist foreign fighters in Syria.

Prosecutors are also considering bringing terrorism charges against Mr Lau himself, say reports.

The defendant strongly denies all the charges, his lawyer says.

More than 40 witnesses have been called to give evidence at the trial, which is expected to run until about January.

Mr Lau's alleged crimes date back to 2013, when he is accused of transporting two Islamists from Germany to join Jamwa - Jaysh al-Muhajirin wal-Ansar (Army of the Emigrants and Helpers).

He is also accused of providing the group with money and night-vision goggles.

image copyright AP image caption The "Sharia police" phenomenon caused a stir in Germany in September 2014

In 2014, Mr Lau is said to have led a group of men wearing high-visibility vests emblazoned with "Sharia police" on patrols in Wuppertal, western Germany in a bid to enforce their ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam.

The group ordered people outside nightclubs to stop drinking and listening to music, and also announced a prohibition on gambling.

Mr Lau has been held in custody since December last year.