DEININGEN, Germany, Sept. 6 (UPI) — German police said they raided the monastery and farm of a Christian sect in Bavaria Friday and removed 40 children after receiving reports of child abuse.

The children, whose ages range from 7-months to 17-years-old, are members of the Twelve Tribes group, which has roots in the United States.

They were placed with foster families while police investigate, Britian’s Guardian reported.

Police said they have been observing the sect for refusing to send its children to school, and teaching licenses were recently withdrawn from its own school.

The group’s complexes were sealed off while 100 police officers conducted raids that were prompted by new evidence indicating child abuse, The Guardian said.

Police said the sect’s chief is Deltef Markel, 54.

Parents of the Twelve Tribes have allegedly beat their children with a small rod that is soaked in oil to make it more pliable, police said.

Members of the group have denied the accusations and said they do not tolerate child abuse, The Guardian said.