Crewe Religious Group Raids 2026: 10 Arrested for Modern Slavery & Rape

Published: 30 April 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

In one of the largest police operations in Cheshire’s history, more than 500 officers descended on the quiet town of Crewe yesterday to execute high-stakes raids on the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (ARPOL). The operation, which involved support from Europol, the Garda, and the Swedish Police Authority, has resulted in the arrest of ten people on suspicion of a harrowing list of crimes, including modern slavery, human trafficking, forced marriage, and rape.

The raids focused on Webb House, a sprawling former orphanage and hospital on Victoria Avenue that has served as the group’s UK base since 2021. For residents of the suburban neighborhood, the dawn arrival of a police helicopter and scores of tactical vehicles signaled the end of a months-long “silent” investigation into the secretive communal organization.

The investigation, triggered in March 2026, centers on a single female victim who was a member of the group during the alleged offenses in 2023. The arrests represent a strikingly multinational group of suspects:

The Suspects: Among those held are a 30-year-old Mexican man (human trafficking), a 35-year-old Spanish man (rape and assault), and individuals from the US, Egypt, Italy, and Sweden.

The Charges: The 44-year-old German man and a 43-year-old American woman are among those specifically questioned over modern slavery and sexual assault offenses.

The Public Order Fallout: A further 13 people were arrested for public order offenses inside the property during the raids, though police clarified these do not relate to the core slavery and sex crimes probe.

Cheshire Constabulary has been quick to distance the criminal probe from the group’s theological beliefs. Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley stressed that the operation is the result of “detailed and robust” reports of specific criminal acts.

“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 reported to us,” Wrigley stated.

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, which originated in Iraq and relocated its headquarters from Sweden to the UK five years ago, is distinct from the well-known and mainstream Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. ARPOL, led by Egyptian-American Abdullah Hashem, claims around 150 members in Crewe but has been rejected by mainstream Islamic bodies.

With Webb House currently being searched by forensic teams, dozens of residents—including many children—have been displaced. Cheshire East Council is working alongside police to provide emergency accommodation and “safeguarding” for those who lived within the communal structure.

The Victim’s Journey: The investigation reportedly gained momentum after the victim fled to Ireland, eventually coming forward with her testimony to the Garda.

Cross-Border Crime: The involvement of Europol and Swedish authorities suggests that detectives are looking into whether the group’s “cross-border activities” were used to facilitate the trafficking of members between international branches.

Community Impact: Local MP Connor Naismith has called for a “speedy investigation” to calm a community shocked by the scale of the police presence in the Victoria Avenue and Nantwich Road areas.

The Crewe raids coincide with a period of intense domestic insecurity. Just as the government has designated antisemitic violence as a “national security emergency” and the Plymouth bomb evacuation continues, the “hidden” threat of modern slavery within closed communities is emerging as a major priority for the Home Office.

As the King celebrates the “special relationship” in Washington, the Cheshire operation highlights the “shadow relationships” that can exist in modern Britain. For the residents of Crewe, the “Golden Tone” of their quiet town has been disrupted by a reminder that behind the walls of communal living, a very modern form of slavery may have been hiding in plain sight.

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