Police find explosives in raid on cult

nosferatu_dj · 20-05-2010, 05:41 AM

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...0520-vh92.html

Police find explosives in raid on cult

May 20, 2010 - 1:44PM
AAP
Police have seized explosives, firearms, detonators and ammunition after raiding 10 properties in and around Adelaide linked to a religious group.
Media reports have referred to the Agape Ministries as a doomsday cult while police say their investigations have involved the alleged illegal activities of the group.
Two men were arrested and charged with firearms offences and two more were "reported", which means they have not yet been officially charged but could later face firearms charges following the raids on properties in Adelaide and nearby country areas.

nosferatu_dj · 20-05-2010, 10:38 PM

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...section=justin

Police hunt religious leaders over weapon stash

By Jason Om
Updated 1 hour 17 minutes ago

Agape Ministries: police say there is no evidence the group is a doomsday cult (ABC News: Nick Harmsen)

Police are hunting three leaders of an international religious group after raids in Adelaide uncovered a stash of guns, detonators and ammunition.
South Australian fraud investigators are also examining payments from members who gave money to Agape Ministries International.
Police say there is no evidence the group is a Doomsday cult but allege the group was amassing weapons and planning to move to a Pacific island.
Twelve properties linked to the group have been raided, including one at Mount Magnificent south of Adelaide.
Four men from South Australia have been charged with firearms offences and will appear in court at a later date.
Detective Superintendent Jim Jeffrey from the South Australia Police's Commercial and Electronic Crime Branch says it is unknown why the group was stockpiling weapons.
"We know that there's suggestions and by the looks of the shipping container they were having plans to relocate overseas, but of course we don't know the reasons for stockpiling weapons or why they were secreting ammunition inside those containers," he said.
"Located within a shipping container on that property was prohibited weapons - extendable batons, slow burning fuses, detonators and detonator cords.
"There was also about 20,000 rounds of ammunition, some of which is high-powered and that ammunition was hidden within the steel frames of some bed heads."
Police say the group was also amassing money, collected from more than 50 of its members.
"The ministry's built up a substantial amount of funds and those funds have been obviously provided by its membership or by its followers by selling up their properties or by pledging funds to that church," Detective Superintendent Jeffrey said.
"Obviously the aspect of the inquiry now is to ascertain whether those funds have been used by the ministry as per the expectations of the people who have given them the money."
George Kruszewski runs a student hostel opposite the Agape headquarters and has watched people gathering for regular Sunday services over the past nine years.
He says he used to talk to the group's leader, Rocco Leo, and has attended one of Mr Leo's services.
"He was putting himself up as being a person who's a great healer and a person who's got authority and all that sort of thing," he said.
"It didn't attract me. It was all sort of getting people in there and making them feel like as if this guy's got all the answers."
There has been strong speculation about the nature of the group. At a media conference this afternoon, Detective Superintendent Jeffery was asked if the group was a cult preparing for the end of the world.
"That would be more speculative. As I said, we've got no concrete evidence of that," he said.
"Yes, we've located the ammunition, we've located some breaches of the firearms act with some of the firearms that were in existence, we're still looking for some other firearms.
"But there's no direct proof or direct links to say that they are going along the lines [of world domination]."
Police are now looking for the group's key leadership group, which they say could be interstate or overseas.
Agape Ministries International is listed on the Australian Business Register as a charitable institution.
The ABC has tried to call the Agape Ministries centres listed in South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia but was unable to contact anyone.

nosferatu_dj · 24-05-2010, 03:17 AM

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...section=justin

Laws failing against cult brainwashing: Xenophon

Updated 2 hours 12 minutes ago

Cult investigation: call for tougher laws (7pm TV News SA)

Tougher laws are being urged to help protect people from manipulation and brainwashing by cults.
South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon says, in France for example, the crime of mental manipulation is punishable by five years in jail or a $100,000 fine.
Adelaide doomsday cult Agape Ministries is being investigated by police after weapons and thousands of rounds of high-powered ammunition were found at 13 properties and four people arrested or reported.
Senator Xenophon says current laws are little safeguard against brainwashing.
"The current laws that we have just don't deal with issues of psychological manipulation, effectively brainwashing, the way that people are deceived into handing over their money to these cults," he said.
Senator Xenophon says details emerging about Agape have been frightening.
"The fear, the manipulation and the coercion they were put under was just enormous. That's why we actually need to have laws that can deal with an issue like this which wouldn't impact in any way on the freedom of religion," he said.
Police say they know where the leader of the Agape Ministries cult is but they are still gathering evidence in their investigation.
Superintendent Jim Jeffery says the Agape leaders are overseas.
"There would be extradition treaties in place for these countries but as I said we have to be, as far as investigators are concerned, be ready to take any proceedings that we want to take when we're ready to take. At this point of time there's a lot to do with this investigation," he said.
Former cult members are urging Agape Ministries leader Rocco Leo to surrender.
A former cult member Phil Arbon has told the ABC he has been getting death threats since going public with details about the cult.

20-05-2010, 05:41 AM	#1
nosferatu_dj Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Western Australia. Posts: 3,957	Police find explosives in raid on cult http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...0520-vh92.html Police find explosives in raid on cult May 20, 2010 - 1:44PM AAP Police have seized explosives, firearms, detonators and ammunition after raiding 10 properties in and around Adelaide linked to a religious group. Media reports have referred to the Agape Ministries as a doomsday cult while police say their investigations have involved the alleged illegal activities of the group. Two men were arrested and charged with firearms offences and two more were "reported", which means they have not yet been officially charged but could later face firearms charges following the raids on properties in Adelaide and nearby country areas. __________________ my facebook page and youtube channel.. http://www.facebook.com/Truth.Unlimited http://www.youtube.com/user/djdarren2056

20-05-2010, 10:38 PM	#2
nosferatu_dj Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Western Australia. Posts: 3,957	http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...section=justin Police hunt religious leaders over weapon stash By Jason Om Updated 1 hour 17 minutes ago Agape Ministries: police say there is no evidence the group is a doomsday cult (ABC News: Nick Harmsen) Video: Weapons seized from religious sect (7pm TV News NSW) Audio: Police hunt cult leaders over weapons raid (PM) Map: Adelaide 5000 Related Story: Guns, detonators found in religious sect raids Police are hunting three leaders of an international religious group after raids in Adelaide uncovered a stash of guns, detonators and ammunition. South Australian fraud investigators are also examining payments from members who gave money to Agape Ministries International. Police say there is no evidence the group is a Doomsday cult but allege the group was amassing weapons and planning to move to a Pacific island. Twelve properties linked to the group have been raided, including one at Mount Magnificent south of Adelaide. Four men from South Australia have been charged with firearms offences and will appear in court at a later date. Detective Superintendent Jim Jeffrey from the South Australia Police's Commercial and Electronic Crime Branch says it is unknown why the group was stockpiling weapons. "We know that there's suggestions and by the looks of the shipping container they were having plans to relocate overseas, but of course we don't know the reasons for stockpiling weapons or why they were secreting ammunition inside those containers," he said. "Located within a shipping container on that property was prohibited weapons - extendable batons, slow burning fuses, detonators and detonator cords. "There was also about 20,000 rounds of ammunition, some of which is high-powered and that ammunition was hidden within the steel frames of some bed heads." Police say the group was also amassing money, collected from more than 50 of its members. "The ministry's built up a substantial amount of funds and those funds have been obviously provided by its membership or by its followers by selling up their properties or by pledging funds to that church," Detective Superintendent Jeffrey said. "Obviously the aspect of the inquiry now is to ascertain whether those funds have been used by the ministry as per the expectations of the people who have given them the money." George Kruszewski runs a student hostel opposite the Agape headquarters and has watched people gathering for regular Sunday services over the past nine years. He says he used to talk to the group's leader, Rocco Leo, and has attended one of Mr Leo's services. "He was putting himself up as being a person who's a great healer and a person who's got authority and all that sort of thing," he said. "It didn't attract me. It was all sort of getting people in there and making them feel like as if this guy's got all the answers." There has been strong speculation about the nature of the group. At a media conference this afternoon, Detective Superintendent Jeffery was asked if the group was a cult preparing for the end of the world. "That would be more speculative. As I said, we've got no concrete evidence of that," he said. "Yes, we've located the ammunition, we've located some breaches of the firearms act with some of the firearms that were in existence, we're still looking for some other firearms. "But there's no direct proof or direct links to say that they are going along the lines [of world domination]." Police are now looking for the group's key leadership group, which they say could be interstate or overseas. Agape Ministries International is listed on the Australian Business Register as a charitable institution. The ABC has tried to call the Agape Ministries centres listed in South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia but was unable to contact anyone. __________________ my facebook page and youtube channel.. http://www.facebook.com/Truth.Unlimited http://www.youtube.com/user/djdarren2056

24-05-2010, 03:17 AM	#3
nosferatu_dj Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Western Australia. Posts: 3,957	http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...section=justin Laws failing against cult brainwashing: Xenophon Updated 2 hours 12 minutes ago Cult investigation: call for tougher laws (7pm TV News SA) Video: Former cult member gets death threats (7pm TV News SA) Video: Worries about children within cult (7pm TV News SA) Video: Weapons find linked to cult (7pm TV News SA) Map: Adelaide 5000 Tougher laws are being urged to help protect people from manipulation and brainwashing by cults. South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon says, in France for example, the crime of mental manipulation is punishable by five years in jail or a $100,000 fine. Adelaide doomsday cult Agape Ministries is being investigated by police after weapons and thousands of rounds of high-powered ammunition were found at 13 properties and four people arrested or reported. Senator Xenophon says current laws are little safeguard against brainwashing. "The current laws that we have just don't deal with issues of psychological manipulation, effectively brainwashing, the way that people are deceived into handing over their money to these cults," he said. Senator Xenophon says details emerging about Agape have been frightening. "The fear, the manipulation and the coercion they were put under was just enormous. That's why we actually need to have laws that can deal with an issue like this which wouldn't impact in any way on the freedom of religion," he said. Police say they know where the leader of the Agape Ministries cult is but they are still gathering evidence in their investigation. Superintendent Jim Jeffery says the Agape leaders are overseas. "There would be extradition treaties in place for these countries but as I said we have to be, as far as investigators are concerned, be ready to take any proceedings that we want to take when we're ready to take. At this point of time there's a lot to do with this investigation," he said. Former cult members are urging Agape Ministries leader Rocco Leo to surrender. A former cult member Phil Arbon has told the ABC he has been getting death threats since going public with details about the cult. __________________ my facebook page and youtube channel.. http://www.facebook.com/Truth.Unlimited http://www.youtube.com/user/djdarren2056