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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 hair-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.
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.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.
Group leader Samuel 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.
Authorities are expected to hold a news conference to explain the charges.Authorities are expected to hold a news conference to explain the charges.
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.
'Bodily injury'
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 an affidavit from the Department of Justice.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 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.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 criminal complaint charges them with "wilfully caused bodily injury... or attempting to do so by use of a dangerous weapon, because of the actual or perceived religion of that person".
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. It is alleged that they "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.
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. The justice department affidavit alleges that the men took photographs of their victims after their hair was cut, as evidence of the attack.
The incidents 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 attack, a man in his 70s was set upon 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.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.