This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6547403.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Police raid ex-Rastafarian temple | Police raid ex-Rastafarian temple |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police have arrested 23 people during a raid on a former Rastafarian temple in south London in the early hours. | |
| About 60 armed officers targeted St Agnes Place in Kennington, just after 0300 following suspicions of "serious criminality" at the site. | About 60 armed officers targeted St Agnes Place in Kennington, just after 0300 following suspicions of "serious criminality" at the site. |
| 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 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. | The management committee said the centre was no longer used as a temple. |
| Members of the management committee have actually come to me and said it's being taken over by people who are supplying drugs Commander Martin Bridger | Members of the management committee have actually come to me and said it's being taken over by people who are supplying drugs Commander Martin Bridger |
| St Agnes Place is believed to be the oldest squat in London. | St Agnes Place is believed to be the oldest squat in London. |
| "It was a place of worship," said Lambeth Borough Commander Martin Bridger. | "It was a place of worship," said Lambeth Borough Commander Martin Bridger. |
| "It's the headquarters for the Rastafarian community for the UK let alone Lambeth and we're proud of that. | "It's the headquarters for the Rastafarian community for the UK let alone Lambeth and we're proud of that. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Alternative site | Alternative site |
| The site had been under 24-hour surveillance for the past eight weeks. | |
| The site is the headquarters for the UK's Rastafarian community | |
| Officers had gathered evidence against a core of about 12 people suspected of drug dealing since the police operation began in October. | Officers had gathered evidence against a core of about 12 people suspected of drug dealing since the police operation began in October. |
| The police search for drugs and guns at the temple is expected to last up to two days. | The police search for drugs and guns at the temple is expected to last up to two days. |
| The four terraced houses, topped by a Rastafarian flag, were frequently visited by Bob Marley in the 1970s and have been at the centre of a dispute over whether they should be demolished. | The four terraced houses, topped by a Rastafarian flag, were frequently visited by Bob Marley in the 1970s and have been at the centre of a dispute over whether they should be demolished. |
| Lambeth Council is in the process of trying to find an alternative site for the temple. | Lambeth Council is in the process of trying to find an alternative site for the temple. |