Police launched a large-scale raid on Wednesday morning at the headquarters of a fringe religious organisation in Crewe, following an investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery, and forced marriage. Around 500 officers from across north-west England descended on the site and made a number of arrests.
Target of the Operation
The operation targeted the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, known as AROPL, which is based in a former orphanage in Crewe, Cheshire, as well as other properties connected to the group in the same town. As reported by the Guardian, the investigation was triggered in March after Cheshire Police received a complaint from a woman now living in the Republic of Ireland. She alleged she had been raped and sexually abused at AROPL's headquarters in 2023 while she was a member of the group.
Suspects and Arrests
The suspects identified in the case are men and women of American, Mexican, British, German, and Spanish nationality. Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley said the force was not yet in a position to confirm the total number of arrests made. He stressed that the investigation was directed at specific individuals and was not an action against the religious group as a whole.
Safeguarding and Children
Police said they were working with local partner agencies to put safeguarding measures in place for children living at the site. Around 56 children are understood to reside at the headquarters where they are educated at home rather than attending school.
Background of the Group
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is not a mainstream religious organisation. It is a sect that combines elements of Islam with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and claims that aliens control American presidents. Members of the group believe their leader, who lives with them at the Crewe site, has the power to heal the sick and to make the moon vanish. Approximately 150 people live together inside the sprawling grade II-listed building, with further followers living elsewhere in the town and around the world.
History and Investigations
The group's history raises additional questions about how it came to be operating from a prominent listed building in an English town. AROPL relocated its headquarters to the UK in 2021, having previously been based in Sweden where immigration authorities investigated the organisation and issued deportation orders to dozens of its members. The Guardian has previously reported that the group was also under investigation by the Home Office over its use of skilled worker visas to bring members into the country.
Denials and Legal Response
Lawyers representing AROPL told the Guardian that their client had no comment beyond a firm denial of any wrongdoing.
Scale of the Operation
The scale of Wednesday's operation reflects the seriousness with which police are treating the allegations. Deploying 500 officers to execute warrants at a single location is an unusually large mobilisation by any standard, and it signals that investigators had gathered substantial material before moving against the group.
