Police raid Crewe religious group over abuse claims
Hundreds of police raided the headquarters of a religious group called the Amadi Religion of Peace and Light in Crewe, arresting nine people. The investigation stems from allegations of sexual offenses, modern slavery, and forced marriage, originating from a complaint made by one woman in 2023. Nine suspects of various nationalities were arrested, though police emphasized the investigation targets criminal behavior, not the religion itself.
Summary
A large-scale police operation took place in Crewe, with hundreds of officers descending on the headquarters of a religious community known as the Amadi Religion of Peace and Light. The building, which formerly served as an orphanage, was the primary target of the raid, with police releasing footage showing a large convoy of vehicles entering the grounds. Two additional addresses in Crewe were also searched as part of the same operation.
The investigation centers on serious allegations including sexual offenses, modern slavery, and forced marriage. According to police, the inquiry began in March of the same year following a complaint from a single woman who alleged she had been sexually abused at the site in 2023. Over the course of the day, nine individuals — both men and women — were taken into custody.
Police were careful to clarify in their public statements that while the suspects are members of the religious community, the investigation is directed at alleged criminal conduct rather than the religion itself. The arrested individuals represent a notably international group, with nationalities including American, Mexican, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, and Egyptian. Given the scale of the building — reported to contain at least a hundred rooms — the search operation was expected to continue for an extended period.
Key Insights
- Police released footage showing a large convoy of vehicles arriving at the former orphanage now used as headquarters by the Amadi Religion of Peace and Light, illustrating the scale of the operation.
- The investigation covers multiple serious criminal allegations including sexual offenses, modern slavery, and forced marriage, all connected to the same site.
- The police inquiry was triggered by a single woman's allegation that she was sexually abused at the site in 2023, with the investigation formally beginning in March of the reporting year.
- Police explicitly stated that despite the suspects being members of the religious community, this is an investigation into criminal allegations and not an investigation into the religion itself.
- The nine arrested suspects span six nationalities — American, Mexican, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, and Egyptian — suggesting the community has a notably international membership.
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