It was not clear how the authorities established that the group belonged to the Concerned Christians cult.

Fourteen members of the doomsday cult made international headlines when Israel deported them back to the United States in January for allegedly planning suicide attacks.

The Denver-based cult is led by Monte Kim Miller, who was reported earlier this year to be hiding in Britain.

Miller, 44, a former business executive, had hinted at a millennium massacre on the streets of Jerusalem. He also reportedly told cult members that he plans to die in Jerusalem at the end of December 1999 and will be resurrected three days later.

He is said to have extracted substantial sums of money from cult members.