Scientology ‘raid’ trend takes chaotic turn in Qld
Source:@moisty_pup
The global Scientology run trend has taken a chaotic turn as more than 200 teenagers and young adults descended on central Brisbane on the weekend in what was described as a “Scientology raid”.
The Scientology Run trend, which originated in the US in March, involves participants, usually teenagers, attempting to “speedrun” through Church of Scientology facilities while filming themselves in an attempt to reach as far as possible before getting stopped.
The Brisbane “run” went a step further, with hundreds turning out to the informal event and running rampant outside the Scientology facility on George Street in Brisbane’s CBD on Saturday.
Video posted to social media after the gathering showed teenagers briefly jumping in a police car, while another clip shows a cyclist riding his bike across a police vehicle.
Two people have been so far been charged over the disturbance – a 15-year-old boy with unlawful entry of a vehicle and an 18-year-with one count of public nuisance, driving a particular vehicle without due care and attention and failure to wear helmet.
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Investigations are continuing to identify the other people who were involved.
Acting Superintendent Simon Tayler said officers had managed to identify numerous teenagers involved in the incident, many of whom posted images of themselves storming the building and vandalising police vehicles on their own social media accounts.
“This isn’t just something fun that you post on social media so your mates can click ‘like’, this was a very deliberate act to intimidate people in our state,” Tayler said.
Tayler said three officers were posted outside the George Street Scientology building and elsewhere in Brisbane after multiple social media posts predicted up to a dozen people would try to storm the building.
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An estimated 200 people turned up for the informal event and quickly overwhelmed officers outside the church, Tayler said.
“Unfortunately, due to the nature and the dynamic situation, two of those police officers, while going to render assistance to their supervisor, left the front door of one of the marked police vehicles unlocked,” he said.
In the first recorded Scientology Run, TikToker @isDurpyy posted a video of himself running deep inside the Church of Scientology Information Centre in Hollywood, California shouting “Xenu!” – in reference to a figure in Scientology beliefs – before being escorted out.
There have since been similar stunts in other US cities and around the world, including in Sydney – where two teenaged boys were arrested for a Scientology run in the CBD scientology facility on May 2.
The Church of Scientology says the problem has become so serious it is reviewing its security measures. In a statement, a Scientology spokesman said “speed running” involved “organised trespasses” for social media attention.
“Over recent weeks, individuals have repeatedly forced their way into church properties, disrupted religious and public facilities, damaged church property, and endangered staff, parishioners and visitors,” the spokesman said last week.
“Turning them into targets for viral stunts is not journalism, protest or civic activity. It is trespass, harassment and disruption of religious facilities.
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