Police raid Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light headquarters in Crewe over sexual abuse allegations
500 officers execute warrants as investigation into alleged rape, modern slavery and forced marriage ensues; suspects include American, Mexican, British, German and Spanish nationals
L'essentiel
- Police have raided the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Crewe, Cheshire, following an investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage.
- About 500 officers were deployed on Wednesday morning, making multiple arrests after a woman in the Republic of Ireland reported being raped and sexually abused at the group's headquarters in 2023.
- The suspects are men of American, Mexican, British, German and Spanish nationality.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
AROPL is a controversial religious sect that combines elements of Islam with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens controlling US presidents. The group moved its headquarters to the UK from Sweden in 2021 after Swedish immigration authorities issued deportation orders to dozens of its members. The group has approximately 150 members living communally in a grade II-listed building in Crewe, with around 56 children who are homeschooled.
Police have raided the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light following an investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage. About 500 officers drawn from across the north-west region were on the ground on Wednesday morning and made a number of arrests. The officers had warrants to enter the group's headquarters, which is based out of a former orphanage as well as other properties in Crewe, Cheshire. The arrests come after Cheshire police were alerted in March about a woman, now based in the Republic of Ireland, who had made a complaint of being raped and sexually abused at AROPL's headquarters. All of the alleged offences took place in 2023 and involved the woman, who was a member of the group at the time the offences occurred. The suspects in the case, who are all men, are American, Mexican, British, German and Spanish. Following the arrests, police conducted a search of the premises. AROPL is a sect that blends tenets of Islam with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens controlling US presidents. Followers believe the sect's leader, who lives with the group in Crewe, can cure the sick and make the moon disappear. About 150 people live together in a sprawling, grade II-listed building in Crewe. Other followers live elsewhere in the town and around the world. Ch Supt Gareth Wrigley said the force was not yet able to confirm how many arrests had been made. He stressed that the police investigation was focused on individual suspects and not the religious group as a whole. About 56 children are understood to be living at the group's headquarters, where they are homeschooled. Wrigley said the force was working with local partners to put safeguarding measures in place. AROPL moved its headquarters to the UK in 2021 from Sweden, where they were investigated by immigration authorities, who issued deportation orders to dozens of its members. The Guardian has previously reported that the group was being investigated by the Home Office over its use of skilled worker visas. AROPL's lawyers told the Guardian: "Our client has no comment other than to say that any wrongdoing is vehemently denied." More details soon …
À surveiller
Perspective IA — des possibilités, pas des certitudes
More arrests likely as investigation continues
Très probable · En quelques semaines
Home Office visa investigation will continue in parallel
Très probable · En quelques mois
Potential additional victims may come forward
Probable · En quelques semaines
Questions ouvertes
- How many exactly arrests were made?
- What is the identity of the sect leader?
- Were any of the 56 children at the property abused?
- What specific evidence led to the raid?
