JINAN - Six suspects detained for intentional homicide in East China's Shandong Province are members of a heretic sect, local police announced on Saturday.

The victim, surnamed Wu, was beaten to death on Wednesday evening in a McDonald's outlet in Zhaoyuan City after the victim refused to give her telephone number to the suspects, who were allegedly trying to recruit new members for their sect, according to a statement from the local police authority.

All six suspects are members of the heretic sect Quannengshen, which means "almighty god," according to the statement, and books and other materials from the sect have been found at their residence.

Local provincial police authorities vowed to severely punish illegal activities of heretic sects to protect the safety of people's lives and property.

Local police arrived at the scene at 9:23 pm on Wednesday, four minutes after they were tipped off, and captured the six suspects in the act.

The victim was rushed to the hospital but died at 9:48 pm, according to the police.

The suspects include a man surnamed Zhang, his two daughters and a son, as well as two women surnamed Zhang and Lyu, according to the statement.

With the exception of Zhang's son, who is under the age of criminal responsibility and will be dealt with separately, the other five suspects, who are all jobless, have been put under criminal detention for suspected intentional homicide, police said.