Germany vows to monitor group's Quran distribution

BERLIN – German authorities say a planned distribution of millions of copies of the Quran by an ultraconservative Muslim group is legal but will be carefully monitored.

Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Beyer said Friday authorities are taking the Salafists' actions "very seriously," adding that intelligence services are actively monitoring those groups.

A Salafist movement named House of the Quran has vowed to distribute up to 25 million free copies of the Muslim holy book "to bring the word of Allah to every household in Germany, Austria and Switzerland."

Activists are planning to hand out thousands of copies on city squares across Germany on Saturday.

Security officials have said all terrorists known to German authorities have had contact with Salafist groups.