China arrests 1,000 members of banned religious cult 'Eastern Lightning'

Chinese police have arrested nearly 1,000 suspected members of a banned religious group, state media reported.

The arrests come months after five members of the group, known as the Church of Almighty God or "Quannengshen", were charged with the brutal killing in May of a woman in a McDonald's

restaurant while they were allegedly trying to recruit her.

A report by state news agency Xinhua said that the group, which Beijing regards as a dangerous doomsday cult, cheated people, illegally collected money and "violated the law under the guise of religion."

"A series of acts by its members have harmed people's lives and property, and disrupted social stability," Xinhua said.

The report added that members of the cult, also known as "Eastern Lightning," were responsible for "numerous" suicides and murders, including those of their own family.

Among those arrested were nearly 100 "backbone members", Xinhua said.