The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light community has been at the centre of a high-profile police operation in Crewe, with 25 members appearing at South Cheshire Magistrates' Court charged with public order offences. The charges follow a significant raid on April 29, involving over 500 officers across three addresses linked to the group.
A range of allegations were outlined by prosecuting solicitor Annika Livermore, including obstructing police officers and assaulting one officer during the warrants at Webb House, the group's headquarters. Specifically, defendants such as Dareem Charles were accused of violent behaviour, with reports suggesting he kicked police shields and threw items, while Marc Ferreira allegedly grabbed an officer attempting to make an arrest.
Ramazan Demirovic, 59, was among those alleged to have resisted police efforts, pushing past officers and physically confronting them. Laure Delogne, who communicated through a French interpreter, was accused of hiding from the authorities by taking refuge in a bush outside the premises. The defendants' ages range from 18 to 59, with addresses in Crewe and diverse nationalities, including British, French, Belgian, Iranian, Egyptian, and American.
Notably, some defendants wore distinctive black clothing, while others donned black beanie hats. Outside the court, a small group of protesters gathered, filming the defendants as they arrived for their hearing. In a subsequent decision, District Judge Ian Barnes granted unconditional bail to all defendants, with trial dates set for April next year and case management hearings scheduled for September 29.