Religious group members questioned over modern slavery
BBCPolice are continuing to investigate allegations of sexual abuse, forced marriage and modern slavery connected to a religious community in Cheshire.
Ten people were arrested on Wednesday as 500 police officers were involved in raids on properties connected to members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (Arpol). The allegations are related to a woman who was previously part of the community.
The group was started by followers of Shia Islam at the start of the century, but its beliefs have been rejected by Shiism.
About 150 people are understood to live at its base at Webb House, which was targeted by police, as well as raids on two other properties owned by Arpol.
Those raids were co-ordinated by Cheshire Police, with support from Europol and other forces, and officers remain at the scenes, carrying out further searches.
Earlier, police said nine people were in custody, but on Thursday clarified that the true number was 10 - seven men and three women.
A group gathered outside Middlewich police station on Wednesday night, with about 50 still around on Thursday.
The BBC understands they are members of Arpol or connected to it.
On Wednesday, police said 25 people who were arrested for a variety of public order offences have been charged.
All of them are due to appear at Crewe Magistrates' Court on various dates in June.
Separately, the 10 people arrested in relation to allegations of sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery all remained in custody, the force added.
Cheshire Police said it was made aware last month of allegations that reportedly date back to 2023.
Its inquiry relates to one woman, who was a member at the time offences were said to have taken place.
Those arrested on Wednesday were:
- A 30-year-old Mexican man arrested on suspicion of human trafficking, sexual assault and forced marriage offences
- A 35-year-old British man arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences and sexual assault
- A 44-year-old Italian woman, arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences and sexual assault
- A 42-year-old American man arrested on suspicion of sexual assault
- A 42-year-old American man arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences, sexual assault and forced marriage offences
- A 35-year-old Spanish man arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, assault and forced marriage offences
- A 44-year-old German man arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences
- A 39-year-old Swedish woman arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences and sexual assault
- A 35-year-old Egyptian man arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences and sexual assault
- A 43-year-old American woman arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences and sexual assault
A further 13 people were also arrested on suspicion of public order offences, which do not relate to the investigation.
Meanwhile, the local MP, Connor Naismith, confirmed police were investigating allegations he and his team were "subjected to serious harassment, abuse and intimidation" while giving interviews to the media.
"We're going to support that effort – we're going to provide video footage that we're aware of, just in case they haven't got everything," he said.
What is the group?
Arpol claims its roots are in Shiism or Shia Islam, but mainstream Muslim groups have long distanced themselves from the group.
It is not to be confused with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, often known as Ahmadis, which was founded on the Asian subcontinent, and has a big presence in the UK.
Dr Sarah Harvey, senior research officer at Inform, an educational charity based at King's College London, said the group had their "own specific beliefs and practices".
"They describe themselves as a new religious movement that is the only true religion for the current times that we're living in," she said.
Harvey added the group initially began in Egypt, then moved to Germany and was later based in Sweden before it moved to Crewe in about 2021 when it purchased Webb House as its base.
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