South Australian police are continuing their search for the leaders of an international doomsday cult after they uncovered a stockpile of weapons and explosives during raids of the group's compounds yesterday.
About 90 police searched 12 properties in Adelaide used by Agape Ministries, finding guns, fuses, detonators, detonator cords and 20,000 rounds of ammunition - some of which were hidden in the steel frames of bed-heads.
But Superintendent Jim Jeffery of South Australian Police's Commercial and Electronic Crime Branch said it was not yet known why the group was amassing weapons.
"The reason for stockpiling and hiding this ammunition clearly needs to be ascertained," Superintendent Jeffrey told reporters yesterday.
Four men were arrested and charged with firearms offences, but police are still hunting for the leader of the sect, Rocco Leo, and two other senior members.
The Christian sect - which used to number in the hundreds but now has between 40 and 60 followers - reportedly believes the world will end in 2012.
Police believe the group was collecting money to buy a Pacific Ocean island and set up a Christian colony there, The Advertiser reported.
"'It is believed the ministry was making arrangements to relocate offshore and that the ministry had built up significant funds through the pledges provided by followers," Superintendent Jeffrey said.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon said today he had warned the South Australian government about Agape Ministries, and called for the group's assets to be frozen.
Senator Xenophon said he wrote to Families and Communities Minister Jennifer Rankine a month ago asking her to investigate the group.
His concerns followed a series of meetings with concerned relatives of cult members who raised serious allegations relating to the welfare of children.
Senator Xenophon said the relatives were also concerned the group was planning to flee the country and might be a suicide cult.
A man who runs a business opposite Agape's headquarters told the ABC he had spoken to Mr Leo and attended one of his church 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," George Kruszewski 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, you know."
Agape is the Greek word for love. It has been used by Christians to describe unconditional love as shown by Jesus.
- with AAPAbout 90 police searched 12 properties in Adelaide used by Agape Ministries, finding guns, fuses, detonators, detonator cords and 20,000 rounds of ammunition - some of which were hidden in the steel frames of bed-heads.
But Superintendent Jim Jeffery of South Australian Police's Commercial and Electronic Crime Branch said it was not yet known why the group was amassing weapons.
"The reason for stockpiling and hiding this ammunition clearly needs to be ascertained," Superintendent Jeffrey told reporters yesterday.
Four men were arrested and charged with firearms offences, but police are still hunting for the leader of the sect, Rocco Leo, and two other senior members.
The Christian sect - which used to number in the hundreds but now has between 40 and 60 followers - reportedly believes the world will end in 2012.
Police believe the group was collecting money to buy a Pacific Ocean island and set up a Christian colony there, The Advertiser reported.
"'It is believed the ministry was making arrangements to relocate offshore and that the ministry had built up significant funds through the pledges provided by followers," Superintendent Jeffrey said.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon said today he had warned the South Australian government about Agape Ministries, and called for the group's assets to be frozen.
Senator Xenophon said he wrote to Families and Communities Minister Jennifer Rankine a month ago asking her to investigate the group.
His concerns followed a series of meetings with concerned relatives of cult members who raised serious allegations relating to the welfare of children.
Senator Xenophon said the relatives were also concerned the group was planning to flee the country and might be a suicide cult.
A man who runs a business opposite Agape's headquarters told the ABC he had spoken to Mr Leo and attended one of his church 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," George Kruszewski 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, you know."
Agape is the Greek word for love. It has been used by Christians to describe unconditional love as shown by Jesus.
Doomsday cult in South Australia | Search for leaders
