Germany's top security official has banned a far-right group on grounds that it organizes seemingly harmless, such as holiday activities, to promote racist and Nazi ideology among children and young people.

Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Tuesday the ban on the Homeland-Faithful German Youth, or HDJ, was effective immediately. Authorities in four states launched searches in connection with the ban.

Schaeuble's ministry said the group organized activities for pre-teen children that schooled them in "racial studies" and emphasized the need for "purity of blood" and the "procreation of the German race." Jews and foreigners were depicted as a threat to the German race.

Schaeuble said the ban put an end to "the disgusting activities" of the youth group.

"We will do everything in our power to protect our children and young people from these Pied Pipers," Schaeuble said.

It was not immediately clear how many members the group had.

German politicians have been warning of the threat posed by anti-foreigner right-wing groups in Germany.

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