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Seven men arrested over Amish hair-cutting attacks Seven men arrested over Amish hair-cutting attacks
(40 minutes later)
Seven men have been arrested in the US state of Ohio on hate-crime charges following a number of beard-cutting attacks in the Amish community. Seven men have been arrested in the US state of Ohio on hate-crime charges following a number of hair-cutting attacks in the Amish community.
The breakaway Amish group members are suspected of cutting the beards and hair of Amish men and women. Amish men and women have had their beards and hair cut in a spate of assaults that have been blamed on a breakaway group in the community.
The group leader, Sam Mullet, and three of his sons are among those detained, prosecutors in Cleveland said. Group leader Samuel Mullet and three of his sons are among those detained, prosecutors in Cleveland said.
More than half a dozen such attacks have taken place in the Amish community in recent months. Authorities are expected to hold a news conference to explain the charges.
Authorities are expected to hold a news conference to explain the charges against the men.
Religious differences between the two groups are said to be behind the incidents.
The attacks are viewed as particularly offensive in the religiously conservative community, where women do not cut their hair and men grow beards once they marry.
Wednesday's arrests took place in eastern Ohio. The US attorney's office in Cleveland said the suspects would be arraigned later in the day.Wednesday's arrests took place in eastern Ohio. The US attorney's office in Cleveland said the suspects would be arraigned later in the day.
In an interview with the Associated Press in October, Mr Mullet denied ordering the attacks, but said he did not prevent his sons and others from carrying them out. The suspects are: Samuel Mullet, Johnny Mullet, Daniel Mullet, Levi Miller, Eli Miller and Emanuel Schrock, all from Bergholz; and Lester Mullet, of Hammondsville, according to href="https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7Px6dHfqJPXMzI4NmQwY2YtM2Q5MC00OWJlLTg4OTQtMTlkNmFiMzBlYTEx" >an affidavit from the Department of Justice.
They are accused of carrying out "religiously motivated physical assaults" and causing injury by use of a dangerous weapon.
It is alleged that the men "forcibly restrained multiple Amish men and cut off their beards and head hair with scissors and battery-powered clippers", according to a statement from the Department of Justice.
The incidents are said to stem from religious disputes and are viewed as particularly offensive in the conservative Amish community, where women do not cut their hair and men grow beards once they marry.
In the most recent incident, a man in his 70s was attacked this month by his own son, who wrestled his father to the floor and cut the hair on his head and beard.
In an interview with the Associated Press in October, Samuel Mullet denied ordering the attacks, but said he had not prevented his sons and others from carrying them out.
He added that the aim of the assaults was to make the Amish community feel ashamed for the way they had treated him and the rest of his group.He added that the aim of the assaults was to make the Amish community feel ashamed for the way they had treated him and the rest of his group.
The Amish, a tiny Christian community also known as the Plain People, generally shun modern conveniences such as electricity, televisions and cars.The Amish, a tiny Christian community also known as the Plain People, generally shun modern conveniences such as electricity, televisions and cars.