CREWE — Around 500 British police officers conducted coordinated raids on facilities linked to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light group on the morning of April 29, 2026, executing warrants at three addresses including the group's headquarters in Crewe, Cheshire. Seven men and three women were taken into custody on suspicion of modern slavery, forced marriage and sexual assault.

Officers from forces across northwest England carried out the operation, which was led by Cheshire Police. Drone footage showed more than a dozen police vehicles entering the group's headquarters as the raid began. Those arrested included two American men, one American woman, two Mexican men, a British man, an Italian woman, a Spanish man, a Swedish woman and an Egyptian man.

"Today's operation is the outcome of a detailed and robust investigation," Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley of the Cheshire Constabulary said in a statement. "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."

Police learned in March 2026 of allegations from a former member of serious sexual offenses, forced marriage and modern slavery said to have taken place in 2023. All of the arrests pertained to those allegations. Lawyers representing the group said their client vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is a religious movement based largely on messianic prophecy intertwined with conspiracy theories. The group is associated with the Shiite branch of Islam but is considered heretical by most Muslims. Its doctrine does not obligate adherents to perform ritual Islamic prayers and allows alcohol consumption.

In 2015, the sect's Egyptian-American leader Abdullah Hashem claimed to be the Mahdi, an Islamic messianic figure comparable to the Second Coming of Christ. He also claimed to be the true pope and the successor of Jesus Christ. Before founding the group, Hashem was a documentary filmmaker whose work covered the UFO-based religion Raelism, and he was involved in producing an online documentary that sought to legitimize Illuminati conspiracy theories with Islamic scripture. In his manifesto, he urged followers to build a "media machine" to propagate the faith. Videos show members professing belief that Hashem can cure fatal illnesses, make the moon disappear and turn leaves into living animals.

About 150 people live in the Crewe headquarters, a Grade II-listed building that was previously an orphanage, including 56 children who are home-schooled. In 2021, the group moved its headquarters to the U.K. from Sweden after immigration authorities revoked residency permits for dozens of its members, a step the group described as racist persecution. It was previously based in Egypt and Germany. Authorities in Malaysia have formally banned the group, and authorities in Egypt and Algeria have charged and detained members.