100 Congregants Charged After Police Raid Church for Violating Lockdown

Authorities raided a church over the weekend and broke up the 150-member service, charging 100 members for violating the nation’s lockdown restrictions for houses of worship.

According to reports, German police broke up the service in the town Herford, in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Saturday, and found congregants ignoring social distancing policies and not all wearing masks. The name of the church has not been released yet.

Germany has been in strict lockdown for months, where indoor services have been capped at 20 people, and communal singing in church has been strictly prohibited since May.

Banning singing during worship was one of the restrictions the German Government imposed on Churches as a condition of them being allowed to reopen, believing it to be a catalyst for a super-spreader event.

It is not known at this time how steep the fines will be, but the pastors and organizers of the event are expected to face steep monetary penalties.