GETTY Saudi Arabia are reportedly backing fundamentalist Islamic groups in Germany

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AT LEAST 10,000 Islamic extremists living within Germany are being supported by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, a shock new report has claimed. The number of fundamentalists swearing allegiance to the Salafi group in Germany is on rise and Gulf countries have been accused of increasing their support to the terror cell.

We don't want terrorism in Germany… and we don't want to export terrorism Thomas de Maiziere

German media claimed Berlin’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) have accused Saudi Arabia and Kuwait of funding religious groups and conversion groups, as well as financing the building of mosques and backing hardline imams. According to a report drafted by the agencies, missionary groups including the Sheikh Eid Bin Mohammad al-Thani Charitable Association and the Saudi Muslim World League are involved in a "long-running strategy to exert influence" by Gulf nations.

GETTY Salafi group member Sheikh Issam Saleh speaks during a press conference in Gaza city

In addition to this, the Kuwaiti Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS), an NGO banned by the US and Russia for alleged links to terrorist group Al-Qaeda, has also been blamed for the rising support for fundamentalist Salafi groups in Germany. RIHS and the Sheikh Eid Bin Mohammad al-Thani Charitable Association have denied the allegations. Saudi ambassador Awwas Alawwad also rejected the claims, saying his country has “no connection with German Salafism”.

The news comes after religious group Die Wahre Religion were banned in Berlin following raids of their offices in cities across Germany. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said: "The translations of the Quran are being distributed along with messages of hatred and unconstitutional ideologies…Teenagers are being radicalised with conspiracy theories.

GETTY The report suggests mosques in Germany are receiving funds from key figures in Saudi Arabia

"We don't want terrorism in Germany… and we don't want to export terrorism." Salafism is an ultra-conservative movement within Sunni Islam which aspires to emulate the ways of the Prophet Mohammed. Typically dressed in traditional white robes with long beards and flowing head scarves, followers of the 100-year-old school of thought see Salafi Islam as the purest form of the religion.