German Police Raid Christian Commune
- Religion Today
- Published Sep 16, 2013
![German Police Raid Christian Commune](https://i.swncdn.com/media/700w/crosswalk/resource/areas/crosswalk/resources/images/defaultimages/article-large-landscape.png)
Early on Thursday morning, Sept. 5, police in Germany raided two communities belonging to a Christian sect and took custody of 40 children, WORLD reports. Officials claimed they had "evidence pointing to significant and ongoing child abuse by the members," but didn't offer details. More than 100 police officers arrived in green and white vans to seize children at the two locations in the southwestern state of Bavaria, according to German media. They are temporarily placing the children with foster families. According to a statement from the sect, known as The Twelve Tribes, the raid occurred while children and parents were still in bed, and the police provided "no direct evidence against any individual" to substantiate the abuse charge. "Where is the legal basis here?" the group asked. "People cannot be found guilty based on their association with a religious faith."