Commandos storm cult compound on French island to free boy

Sixteen members of a religious cult – including a leading fugitive – were in custody today on an Indian Ocean island after French commandos stormed their compound and rescued a boy they had allegedly kidnapped.

Among those arrested was the believed head of the group, Julien Verbard, a 25-year-old who was convicted in absentia of raping two boys but had evaded police on the French island of La Reunion for three years.