A group of police officers broke into a Church in China’s Fujian province last week, intimidated the church goers, stopped the liturgy and shut down the building.

The police claimed that they were there to “enforce the laws,” but they entered the building without the consent of the church and without any official documentation stating they could. The Pastor asked if they would be willing to speak with him after the service since it was then ongoing, but they shouted that it should be stopped, people should leave, and no one should attend church there anymore.

In the midst of the chaos, one mother attempted to flee with her one-year-old child, but a female government agent intercepted and chastised her. One of the attendees attempted to stand between the mother and the officer, but she bullied him. The two eventually left safely, but the child’s eye was hurt in the process.

As the church members attempted to leave, the authorities closed the door and demanded to see their identification and other personal information.

A report on the incident was publicised by ChinaAid, a group that exposes abuses, such as those suffered by the members of Yongfu Church, in order to stand in solidarity with the persecuted and promote religious freedom, human rights, and rule of law.