Nine people have been arrested after a raid on an Islamic sect operating out of a former orphanage, following allegations of rape, modern slavery and forced marriage.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) was previously based in Sweden before relocating to Crewe, Cheshire, in 2021, where its premises are heavily guarded.
It has faced allegations that followers are asked to offer up their salaries or sell their possessions to contribute to the religious sect.
Shortly before 9am today around 500 officers from Cheshire Police and neighbouring forces descended on Grade II-listed Webb House and two other properties on Nantwich Road and Badger Avenue.
Six men and three women were arrested. All are in their thirties or forties, and are from Mexico, the US, Spain Egypt, Sweden and Italy.
A further 13 people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences unrelated to the investigation, which has been supported by Europol, the Swedish Police Authority and the Garda.
More than 50 children who were being home-schooled at the orphanage are being looked after by partner agencies.
Police said they were made aware of the allegations - which include serious sexual abuse, modern slavery and forced marriage - last month.
They stressed that their investigation is not into the religious group itself, and said there was 'no risk to the wider community'.
All of the alleged offences involve one victim, a woman, when she was a member of the group in 2023.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) is operating out of a heavily guarded former orphanage in Cheshire (pictured)
Van-loads of police officers arriving at the group's former orphanage headquarters in Crewe on Wednesday morning to investigate allegations of rape, modern slavery and forced marriage
Around 100 locals gathered outside the police cordon as news of the arrests spread, with some telling how they had become increasingly concerned about the group’s activities.
One said: ‘You can’t go near the grounds at night without their security guards shining bright lights at you and shouting – it’s very intimidating.’
At one point today a group of followers of AROPL – many wearing the group’s distinctive black beanie hats – had to be held back from trying to get past the police cordon and into their headquarters.
Several vans filled with officers in riot gear from as far afield as Wales were reinforcing the cordon this afternoon as colleagues continued searching the grounds, while a police helicopter circled overhead.
In 2025 ex-members of the group told The Guardian how they felt pressured to cut ties with the outside world and were encouraged to sell their homes to fund its activities.
Crowds standing opposite police outside Webb House in Crewe which faces allegations that followers are asked to offer their salaries or sell possessions to contribute to the religious sect
An aerial view of the AROPL's site in Crewe, Cheshire - one of three properties raided on Wednesday
One woman claimed she handed over all the money she was gifted for her wedding, while another says he donated about £33,000.
It is understood that around 150 followers live in the £2million Cheshire building, including families with children who are home schooled there.
Webb House was originally built as an orphanage for children of railway workers who had lost their parents in work-related accidents and later became British Rail offices and an NHS specialist mental health facility.
AROPL says it is a peaceful religious movement derived from Shia Islam - the second-largest branch of Islam - that has been persecuted around the world due to its belief in equality and human rights.
It describes itself as the 'fulfilment of prophecy as per the narrations and scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths' - a term for the elements shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Lawyers for AROPL say the sect advocates for mainstream medical advice from the NHS in the UK and there is no requirement that other members should sell property or give up salaries.
They say children living there are home-schooled by their individual parents with the approval of the local education authority which monitors their progress.
Members of the public all wearing similar hats watch police in Crewe on Wednesday
Shortly before 9am today around 500 officers from Cheshire Police and neighbouring forces descended on Grade II-listed Webb House
Specialist officers are understood to be speaking with potential victims while searches of the building take place
Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley, of Cheshire Constabulary, said: 'Today's operation is the outcome of a detailed and robust investigation into reports of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery involving members of a religious group called Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Crewe.
'While those arrested are members of the group, I want to make clear that this is not an investigation into the religion, this is an investigation into the serious allegations which have been reported to us.
'We treat all reports of sexual assault seriously and are committed to doing all we can to achieve justice.
'Following the arrests we are working closely with our partners to provide the appropriate advice and safeguarding to other members of the group.'