The Guardian, UK
June 18, 2005
Hugh Muir
www.guardian.co.uk

---

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 11463 • Posted: Saturday June 18, 2005  

---

Allegations that African boys were being trafficked into Britain for slaughter during macabre church services were largely discredited by Scotland Yard last night.

A report commissioned by the police and leaked to the BBC included claims of abuse by clerics at fringe west African churches seeking to exorcise evil spirits. Critics of the report have demanded proof and pointed to the danger of inflaming racial tension.

Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said last night that his officers had no evidence to support the most alarming claim - apparently made at a focus group - that boys were being smuggled in for ritual killings.

He said some media had linked the claim to recent comments made by the Met suggesting that many African boys had disappeared. “We are very aware of the damage caused,” he said. “There is no evidence either in this report or elsewhere to support the suggestion that 300 African boys are missing in London.”

Plans to release the report have been shelved pending talks between police and community representatives.

Angry community workers do, however, accept that some practices cause concern. Three weeks ago, two women were convicted after torturing an eight-year-old Angolan girl accused of being a witch.

Scotland Yard is now investigating five other claims that children - two boys and three girls - have been mistreated after being identified by self-styled ministers as being possessed by evil spirits.

---

What You Can Do From Here

---

Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: Ritual Killing Share, Blog, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: Ritual Killing Read Another Article Previous entry: Court orders DNA tests on Ecleo and his kids Next entry: ‘End of the world’ RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Ritual Killing Most Popular Today Decision expected this week on whether parents will face trial in faith healing death Church tries Goth Liturgy Ganas commune co-founder sues current and former members Los Angeles pastor used church credit cards for personal expenses Judge allows reckless homocide charges in faith healing death of Madeline Neumann Japan: Security agency calls for extension of surveillance of Aum cult Mormon church publishes journal of founder Joseph Smith Exclusive Brethren an evil, corrupt cult, court told Author believes Tom Cruise pressured Amazon to stop selling book critical of Scientology

---

Share This Article

---

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:

• Post a link on your blog or website:
  
• Send in an email or IM:
  
• Post on a forum:
  

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.