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Demolition teams have destroyed a Chinese church that has become a symbol of resistance to the Communist Party’s draconian grip on religion, activists and witnesses said Monday.

Sanjiang Church in Wenzhou, a wealthy coastal city known as the “Jerusalem of the East,” made headlines earlier this month when thousands of Christians formed a human shield around its entrance after its demolition was announced.

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Church members accused Communist leaders in Zhejiang province of ordering an anti-church crackdown and said at least 10 places of worship there were facing complete or partial demolition. Officials denied that, claiming the church had violated building codes.

After a tense standoff, Sanjiang’s leaders appeared to have negotiated a compromise with the government and many protesters withdrew from the building.

However, that deal appears to have broken down amid reports that police had detained some church leaders.