The Christian Post reports: “More than 1,000 police, SWAT and paramilitary units carried out a crackdown on Christian churches across at least 12 congregations for days in Yayang Town, Zhejiang province, detaining hundreds, according to a watchdog report. 

Residents say that officers from several districts in Zhejiang, including Hangzhou and Pingyang, were deployed to Yayang Town, with the first wave of detentions taking place before dawn on Monday, according to the U.S.-based advocacy organization ChinaAid, led by veteran rights activists Bob Fu. 

Several hundred people were detained within the first two days, and at least four more were taken into custody by Dec. 17, residents said

SWAT forces sealed off roads around the church and barred Christians from entering. Items belonging to those targeted were confiscated, and police presence remained heavy throughout the area during the five-day operation.

Authorities issued no public statement during or after the arrests…”