By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS

At least 11 people have been arrested on Tuesday in a major police raid on the headquarters of a Shia Islamic association and the homes of its leaders in northern France, local media reported.

The operation against the Zahra Center France in Grande-Synthe, a suburb of the port city of Dunkirk, was launched as part of "prevention of terrorism" measures, regional authorities said in a statement.

The leaders of the center are suspected of supporting "terrorist organizations and in favor of movements backing ideas that are contrary to the values" of France, French daily Le Figaro reported, quoting security sources.