Officers, under surveillance by a police helicopter, raided the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) headquarters at the former orphanage, Webb House, Crewe, where around 150 adults and children live, along with two other properties at 8.50am local time. One of those arrested was the group’s spiritual leader, Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Safiq.Seven people, of American, British, Mexican, Spanish, German and Egyptian nationality, were arrested for crimes including human trafficking, forced marriage, sexual harassment, modern slavery, rape and assault. Three women of Italian, Swedish and American nationality were arrested on suspicion of modern slavery crimes and sexual assault.A further 13 people were arrested on suspicion of public order offenses inside the property.Cheshire Police said last month they were made aware of allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and slavery, which took place in 2023, all involving a woman who was a member of the group.AROPL is a millenarian religious movement with its roots in Twelver Shia Islam. It has no connection with the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. Dr. Sarah Harvey, senior research officer at Inform, said, it started in Basra, Iraq in the late 1990s and is now active in 40 countries.In 2018, the movement was based in Sweden, but following a Swedish police raid, in 2021, it established its headquarters in England. Adherents wear black headgear and many of its beliefs, such as permitting alcohol consumption, differ from Islam, which has led to religious persecution of the group in many Muslim-majority countries. The group believes that the Illuminati controls America and that aliens control American presidents.Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley said: “Although those arrested are members of the group, this is not an investigation into religion, this is an investigation into serious allegations.”