A shocking report has revealed that illegal weddings with up to 300 guests are still taking place, despite lockdown restrictions being put in place.
The investigation by Jewish News, found that coronavirus rules had been ignored by many wedding parties, with several whistleblowers telling the publication that laws banning weddings have been flouted time and again.
After police recently broke up an illegal wedding with 150 guests at Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls' School in Stamford Hill, it has been revealed that this wasn't a one-off.
The shocking report into Orthodox weddings revealed that some venues were allegedly encouraging 'maskless' crowds inside with no social distancing in place.
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According to the report, one bride reportedly tested positive for Covid before getting married.
The anonymous source told the Jewish News: "These illegal weddings have been going on for 10 months. We're not talking about one or two. We are talking multiple weddings every day. All have 150-200 guests. At one wedding the bride was Covid-positive."
Meanwhile, a photographer is reported to have contracted Covid-19 at one of the London weddings, "subsequently forcing an entire El Al flight into quarantine on its return to Israel."
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The Yesoday Hatorah Senior Girls' School is said to be one of five main locations where weddings have been taking place, despite the school's former principal dying from Covid-19 last spring. The school reportedly makes £750 for each wedding it hosts. And despite being raided by police in October, Beis Ruchel D'Satmar School in Stamford Hill has also been accused of breaching regulations.
Sources revealed that weddings were "happening all over." It is thought that up to four weddings a week are being held at Belz Hall at 98 Clapham Common.
"There are up to four weddings a week there, Monday to Thursday," one source revealed.
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Meanwhile, another claimed earlier in the week: "One took place last night. Another took place on the 17th also at Yesodey Hatorah, another wedding will take place tomorrow. It's happening all over."
It has also been alleged that some organisers are requesting a £10,000 payment upfront in case they are fined by police.
Multiple sources told the Jewish News that the police had been notified but questioned why more wasn't being done to stop the weddings.
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"Police have been told about them on numerous occasions, via 101 and 999," said one. "Why are they turning a blind eye?"
Featured Image Credit: PexelsTopics: Weddings, Life News, lockdown, News, Coronavirus