Gorgeous Katie Holmes is living in fear as she and Suri are hounded by anti-Scientology extremists.

A group of zealots known as Anonymous is relentlessly pursuing Katie with a view to persuading the 29-year-old to dump Scientology in their bid to rid the world of it.

Hate campaign

Katie, who followed her superstar husband Tom Cruise, 46, into Scientology after they married nearly two years ago, blames Tom's faith for their frightening campaign.

Katie pleaded with Tom - who is believed to be second-in-command in the church - to order a massive security crackdown in New York. She's living there in a plush, high-rise apartment for the next few months while starring in All My Sons on Broadway.

Anonymous plans to hold a large-scale protest, with demonstrators wearing Guy Fawkes masks, when the play opens on September 18.

A source close to Tom says he's alarmed and anxious to do 'everything in his power'
to keep his girls safe.

'As the anti-Scientology actions escalated, Katie became more and more fearful, not only for her safety but for little Suri's,' the insider says. ‘She has really been enjoying her independent life in Manhattan away from Tom, but these fanatics have really rattled her. She's worried. And since Tom's the public face of Scientology, she wants him to ensure his family's safety.'

Tom is taking the group's protests extremely seriously.

'He's worried sick that one or several of these fanatics will go off the wall and take out their hatred of Scientology on Katie,' the source says. 'Even if they just jostle and harass her in public, and make her feel like her life's in danger, Tom knows it will be such a terrifying experience, it could affect her for years.'

Losing her religion

Since Katie's name went up in lights on Broadway where she is rehearsing for the Arthur Miller play, demonstrators have kept a vigil outside the backstage door of the theatre with protest signs urging Katie to leave Scientology.

They plan another rally outside the theatre this month.

The source says: 'om's concerned that their hate campaign may frighten Katie so much she'll want to leave his religion and take Suri with her, just like his ex-wife Nicole Kidman tried to do with their kids. Soon after Nicole's stance, their marriage suddenly ended after 10 years.'

Anonymous, aka Anon, has been staging massive monthly protest rallies at Scientology centres in Australia, Britain and Canada. Its supporters often wear masks so they
can't be identified.

Six months ago, the activists posted a two-minute video on YouTube, urging Katie to leave the church. Now it is alleged members are angry that she is standing by her husband - and therefore the church.

Warned to leave

On one anti-Scientology website, revenge has been sworn against her and there are hints Katie's risking her life by staying with what the zealots label a 'sect'.

In a synthesised voice on the video, a woman says: 'Leaving Scientology will not be easy. They will be angry. They will condemn you. They will isolate you and attempt
to force you back in the fold.

'Leaving will be difficult emotionally and perhaps physically. Should you decide to leave, we only wish to help you in the right direction. We will be guiding you toward freedom,' the woman says.

'For every step you take of freeing yourself from Scientology, we will be one step behind you and preventing Scientology's hateful campaign of lies, misdeeds and misinformation.'

Tom has reacted quickly to Katie's concerns that his position in the church could leave her badly exposed to potentially dangerous situations for her and Suri.

'Tom has stepped up the family's security measures,' the source says.

'When Katie leaves her apartment, there are more bodyguards watching her. When
she gets out of her limo and walks into the theatre, she's surrounded by minders.

'Katie had been enjoying short walks to the theatre shadowed by security, but Tom has banned the walks. He's also going to put bodyguards in theatre seats when the show opens in case members of Anon try to disrupt the play or accost Katie.'

Tom has also reportedly employed Katie lookalikes and uses decoy cars that take different routes from his wife to throw off Anon members. But the presidential-style security brief doesn't confine itself to limiting her newfound freedom in New York.
Tom is preparing to take the fight directly to the zealots, which means tightening poor Katie's cordon of security.

The insider adds: ‘He's ordered church members to film the fanatics outside the New York Scientology centre and even follow them home in an attempt to catch these people - unmasked.'

By Drew MacKenzie