Police in the west German city of Essen said special units had to be involved in the raids, given the club's “dangerous” members.

Saturdah is The Netherlands' biggest motorcycle club and allegedly has strong ties to organised crime.

The raids started at 6:00 on Tuesday morning in cities including Aachen and Duisburg in North Rhine-Westphalia, which borders The Netherlands, according to the Essen police statement. 

Spiegel reported Satudarah was closely allied with the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, whose rivalry with the Hells Angels meant the two groups had an enemy in common.

Territorial fights between Satudarah and Hells Angels often featured hand grenades, mass brawls and gunshots. Some German club members carried Kalashnikovs and sub-machine guns.

But the testimony of German Satudarah leader Yildiray Kaymaz, arrested in Duisburg in 2013, has already done much to help authorities shut down the club.

The raids and de Maiziere's ban are are seen as continuations of these efforts.