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Police raid on Rastafarian temple Police raid on Rastafarian temple
(about 2 hours later)
Police arrested 23 people during a raid on a Rastafarian temple during the early hours. Police arrested 23 people during a raid on a former Rastafarian temple in south London during the early hours.
The operation in St Agnes Place in Kennington, south London, took place after what police said were suspicions of "serious criminality" at the site. Around 60 armed police officers targeted St Agnes Place in Kennington, just after 0300 following suspicions of "serious criminality" at the site.
Search warrants were executed under the Drugs and Firearms Legislation. The raid involved the Metropolitan Police and Lambeth Council. The centre - seen as the headquarters of the UK's Rastafarian community - has recently attracted up to 600 people a day, mostly buying drugs, said police.
The management committee said the centre was no longer used as a temple.
St Agnes Place is believed to be the oldest squat in London.St Agnes Place is believed to be the oldest squat in London.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "These premises have been used in part as a Rastafarian temple. "Taken over"
"However, it is believed that a high level of serious criminality has been operating from here which is adversely affecting the local communities. "It was a place worship," said Lambeth Borough Commander Martin Bridger.
"This operation is a joint initiative by police and the local authority aimed at protecting the communities in south London from serious criminality." "It's the headquarters for the Rastafarian community for the UK let alone Lambeth and we're proud of that.
The operation is ongoing. "But members of the management committee have actually come to me and said it's being taken over by people who are supplying drugs - it's no longer being used as a temple."
The police search for drugs and guns at the temple is expected to last up to two days.