Guatemalan police have successfully resisted an attempted recapture of 160 children rescued from the controversial Lev Tahor sect, known for its extremist practices and alleged abuse.

The children were placed in protective care after a police raid on Friday at the sect’s farm in Oratorio, southeast of Guatemala City. Authorities conducted the operation following allegations of abuse, including forced pregnancies, child mistreatment, and rape. Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez confirmed that the children were reportedly being harmed by a member of the sect.

On Sunday, tensions escalated when approximately 100 sect members, including relatives of the children, gathered outside the care center demanding their return. Some forced their way into the facility, leading to clashes with law enforcement. Authorities swiftly intervened, relocating the children to safety in a secure vehicle.

Lev Tahor, notorious for imposing harsh conditions on its followers, advocates child marriage, enforces strict dress codes for women and girls as young as three, and punishes minor transgressions severely. The sect has faced investigations for serious sexual offenses across multiple countries.

The Jewish Community of Guatemala has distanced itself from Lev Tahor, emphasizing its lack of affiliation with the group. In a statement, the community expressed support for the authorities’ efforts to protect vulnerable children and others at risk.

Prosecutors revealed that prior attempts to check on the children’s wellbeing were obstructed by sect members, heightening concerns for their safety. Officials estimate the sect comprises about 50 families living in Guatemala, the US, Canada, and elsewhere.

This incident follows a 2022 operation in Mexico’s Chiapas state, where Lev Tahor members were arrested but later released due to insufficient evidence.

A woman tragically lost her life on Sunday in Brooklyn after being set on fire aboard a stationary subway train. A man has been arrested in connection with the horrifying attack, described by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being.”

The incident occurred at around 07:30 local time (12:30 GMT) on an F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. Police say the woman, whose identity has not yet been released, was seated in a subway car when a man used a lighter to ignite her clothing, which quickly became engulfed in flames.

Although officers extinguished the fire, the victim succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

Detectives are working to determine a motive for the attack. NYPD official Joseph Gulotta stated that there appeared to be no prior interaction between the victim and the suspect and that the two did not know each other. The victim was reportedly motionless at the time of the attack, but it remains unclear whether she was asleep.

Officers were alerted to the fire by smoke and flames emanating from the train. Responding officers discovered the suspect had remained at the station, seated on a bench near the scene of the attack.

Detailed imagery from officers’ body-worn cameras enabled police to disseminate a clear picture of the suspect. Later in the day, three high school students recognized the man on another subway train and called 911.

Officers located and arrested the suspect at Herald Square station in Manhattan, near the Empire State Building. He was found carrying a lighter in his pocket.

The suspect, who emigrated from Guatemala to the United States in 2018, has not yet been publicly identified. No charges have been filed at this time.

Magdeburg’s Christmas market, usually brimming with festive cheer, has become a somber and deserted scene in the aftermath of a tragic attack. Once lively stalls offering mulled wine and gingerbread now stand closed, surrounded by police tape. Red candles and heartfelt tributes line the pavement, honoring the victims of the senseless violence.

Residents are grappling with a mix of sorrow and anger. This is a tragedy for everyone. The perpetrator should be punished. We can only hope the victims and their families find strength to cope.”

For many, the grief is compounded by frustration over perceived lapses in security.

Authorities have pushed back against criticisms, asserting that the attacker exploited an emergency access route to enter the market. However, the incident has raised questions about whether more robust precautions could have prevented the tragedy.