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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. 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 warrants come after Cheshire police was alerted in March about a woman, now based in the Republic of Ireland, who had made a complaint of being raped and sexually abused in AROPL’s headquarters. All of the alleged offences took place in 2023 and involved the one 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. Around 150 people live together in a sprawling, grade II listed building in Crewe. Other followers live elsewhere in the town and around the world.

Chief superintendent 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.

Around 56 children are understood to be living at the group’s headquarters, where they are homeschooled. Wrigley said the force are working with local partners to put safeguarding measures in place.

AROPL moved their headquarters to the UK in 2021 from Sweden, where they were investigated by immigration authorities which issued deportation orders to dozens of its members.

The Guardian has previously reported that the group are being investigated by the Home Office over their 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 …