Germany frees two held for alleged 'act of violence' plot: Police

German police said Friday they had released two men detained on suspicion of planning a "serious act of violence" following raids in Berlin that targeted Islamists.

"I can confirm that both suspects were freed from custody at 4:30 am (0330 GMT)," said police spokeswoman Kerstin Ismer.

The men, aged 28 and 46, had been detained Thursday after police commandos raided an Islamic cultural centre in western Berlin and a building in Britz, a southern suburb of the German capital.

The two were picked up in Britz, where experts also examined a suspicious object in a car that turned out to be harmless, police had said.

The searches did not turn up any weapons or explosives.

Local media reported officers had acted on a tip-off that an attack was being planned, as European police forces are on high alert following the deadly jihadist attacks in Paris on November 13 that claimed 130 lives.

A Germany-Netherlands football match in the northern German city of Hanover was called off on November 17 at the last minute over fears of an attack.