Two people have been arrested over a series of break-ins in which the hair and beards of Amish farmers were cut off in the US.

The suspects are reportedly part of the Bergholz clan, an Amish community led by bishop Sam Mullet that was the subject of a disputed child custody raid in 2007, amid allegations of sexual abuse. Police in Ohio said the attacks, which began about three weeks ago, were apparently in retaliation for the shunning of Mr Mullet by members of the mainstream Amish community.

The two men in police custody were named as Mr Mullet’s sons Johnny and Lester. They were charged with aggravated burglary and kidnapping and were being held in jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, the Wheeling Intelligencer reported. Another son, Levi, and a fourth person are still wanted in connection with the attacks.

One of the victims in Holmes County described how a gang of between 20 to 30 men dragged him from his house by his beard. Others said they were accosted inside their homes before their hair was cut off.

Here’s what the gang’s leader had to say about it all.