About 500 officers from across north-west England raided the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) in Crewe, Cheshire, on Wednesday morning as part of an investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage.
Cheshire Police confirmed nine people had been arrested in connection with the investigation and were being held in custody. The suspects, who include six men and three women, are of American, Mexican, Spanish, Egyptian, Italian and Swedish nationality. They are suspected of offences including human trafficking, sexual assault, rape, forced marriage and modern day slavery.
The arrests follow a complaint made in March by a woman, now based in the Republic of Ireland, who alleged she was raped and sexually abused at AROPL's headquarters in 2023 while she was a member of the group. Police also arrested a further 13 people on suspicion of public order offences unrelated to the main investigation.
Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley stressed that the investigation is focused on individual suspects, not the religion itself. 'We treat all reports of sexual assault seriously and are committed to doing all we can to achieve justice,' he said. The force is working with local partners to safeguard about 56 children believed to be living at the headquarters.
AROPL, which moved its headquarters to Crewe in 2021, blends tenets of Islam with conspiracy theories. The group describes itself as a peaceful, open and transparent religious movement derived from Shia Islam and has charity status in the UK. About 150 people live together in the grade II-listed former orphanage that serves as its base.
The group has faced previous scrutiny, including investigations in Sweden that led to deportation orders for dozens of members, and a Home Office probe into its use of skilled worker visas. AROPL has denied any wrongdoing, describing the Swedish investigations as racist and religious persecution. Its lawyers declined to comment on the recent arrests.
