GLOBAL TIMES, XINHUA (China), THE GUARDIAN (UK), CNN (US)
Chinese authorities have arrested at least 101 people for spreading rumors about an impending apocalypse, the state-run news agency Xinhua reports.
The 101 people arrested (including 37 in Qinghai and 34 in Fujian province in the east of the country, according to CNN) all belong to the Christian "Almighty God" cult, and were spreading doomsday rumors door-to-door or at public venues. The "evil cult," as it was referred to by Chinese authorities, claimed that only they could save people's lives.
The group, which was founded in 1992, believes that a female Jesus has been, or will be, reincarnated in mainland China, The Guardian reports – while Xinhua adds that its members recently latched on to the Mayan apocalypse scenario predicting the sun will not shine for three days beginning on Friday.
"A big eye was found in the sun on December 9 in Beijing, and female Jesus manifested herself with her name. Great tsunamis and earthquakes are about to happen around the world," reads part of a text message that the "Almighty God" group sent to its members, according to China's Global Times newspaper.
If only all countries did same as China - arrest idiots who say world is ending Friday - we'd have fewer stupid people watoday.com.au/world/scores-a…
— Corey Stephenson (@MrCorey) December 18, 2012
