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SA police arrest 1,500 in church SA police arrest 1,500 in church
(40 minutes later)
Police in Johannesburg have raided the city's Central Methodist Church, arresting around 1,500 homeless people and Zimbabwean refugees. South African police have raided Johannesburg's Central Methodist Church, arresting around 1,500 homeless people and Zimbabweans.
Dozens of police, some heavily armed, raided the church compound at around 2300 (2100 GMT), rounded up those there and took them away. Dozens of police, some heavily armed, raided the church compound, rounded up those there and took them away.
The police said they were looking for drugs, guns and illegal immigrants.The police said they were looking for drugs, guns and illegal immigrants.
But Paul Verryn, the church's bishop, described the raid as a violation of the sanctity of the church. But Paul Verryn, the church's bishop, described the raid as a violation of the sanctity of the church. "I think it is despicable," he told the BBC.
'Violation of rights''Violation of rights'
Bishop Verryn said he would have gladly co-operated with the police if they had asked for his help to search the building and check the papers of those inside.Bishop Verryn said he would have gladly co-operated with the police if they had asked for his help to search the building and check the papers of those inside.
But, he said, the way the police handled those they arrested during the raid was a clear violation of their rights. He said the way the police handled those they arrested during the raid was a clear violation of their rights.
Some of those detained had to be carried out of the churchSome of those detained had to be carried out of the church
It was, he added, an attack on the very institution of the Church.It was, he added, an attack on the very institution of the Church.
An AP news agency reporter said several doors had been forced open and a window smashed.
"Until now, I have not had any reports that guns were found," Bishop Verryn told the BBC's World Today programme.
Asked whether he should be providing shelter to people who may not have the right to be in South Africa, he said: "Absolutely."
He said he had been "bullied" by the police, who had grabbed him by the belt.
As well as the 1,200 homeless and Zimbabwean refugees who usually sleep inside the church, there were some 500 more on the grounds outside.As well as the 1,200 homeless and Zimbabwean refugees who usually sleep inside the church, there were some 500 more on the grounds outside.
By 0200 (0400 GMT), the last of the detainees were being herded into trucks and taken away for processing. Some of those arrested, whose papers were in order, have since returned to the church.
Stiffening attitude to refugees Stiffening attitude
Wednesday night's raid is the first time the police have targeted the Central Methodist Church, which is widely respected as a shelter for some of Johannesburg's most desperate people. Wednesday night's raid is the first time the police have targeted the Central Methodist Church, which is widely respected as a shelter for some of the city's most desperate people.
Until recently, the authorities had adopted a relatively tolerant approach to the hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans seeking refuge from the political and economic meltdown in their home country. The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says that until recently, the authorities had adopted a relatively tolerant approach to the hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans seeking refuge from the political and economic meltdown in their home country.
But as South Africa's own economy starts to strain, the government has begun to stiffen its attitude to refugees. But as South Africa's own economy starts to strain, the government has begun to stiffen its attitude to refugees, our correspondent says.
An estimated three million Zimbabweans are believed to be living in South Africa.An estimated three million Zimbabweans are believed to be living in South Africa.