Police see off gatherings of teenagers in London and Edinburgh after videos of similar stunts in US go viral
Hundreds of teenagers have attempted to “speed run” Scientology buildings in different parts of the UK as part of a TikTok trend that started in Los Angeles.
Scientology speed running is where people rush into churches and see how far they can get before being ushered out by staff. The Church of Scientology said using its church spaces for viral stunts was “trespass, harassment, and disruption of religious facilities”.
A single post on Snapchat last week about a London run snowballed. “First UK raid of Scientology. Happening this Saturday 2nd May. Bring face coverings and GoPros. Spread the word,” it read. The post was shared on TikTok and by Saturday about 100 people were laying siege to London’s main Scientology church near Blackfriars.
Rizak Abdullahi, 19, who watched the events unfold, said: “Some of them were dressed as dinosaurs, some had cat masks, it was quite funny.” He said by the time the group had gathered, two City of London police vans were waiting to rebuff them. “You know the UK police, they know everything,” Abdullahi said.
