Teenager arrested after attack at Gravesend Sikh temple leaves two women injured

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A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after reports of an attempted attack at a Sikh temple.

Two women were injured during the incident at Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend at 8.10pm on Thursday, Kent Police said.

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a religiously-aggravated public order offence.

Pictures from the scene showed armed police guarding the entrance to the temple as an air ambulance landed in a green space nearby.

Worshipper Avtar Singh, 44, tackled a teenager who was brandishing two swords.

He said” “We’d been told, suddenly, everyone just go out of the temple and I was just wondering what they were saying it like that.

“So I was sending my kids and missus downstairs and as soon as I heard they were calling me ‘Avtar, Avtar – come upstairs’ so I just went upstairs, I didn’t know what was going on.

“When I went into the hall, the guy was sitting there on the money pot – sitting there with the two swords in his hands, nothing on his head and in an aggressive mood. I can’t see that – this is against our religion, I perceived that much.

“I just went straight to him, tried to tackle him – he put a sword onto me as well, then I fell on the floor, then we hit him with the thing to try to hold him, he fell on the floor as well.

“Then he ran away around the other side, he ran around the other way, and we chased him all the way along to the Trinity School and then two Indian lads stopped him there, held him and by that time the police came.”

Detective Superintendent Ian Dyball of Kent Police said: “We understand the community’s concerns in relation to the events at the gurdwara, however we are treating it as an isolated incident.

“Patrols will remain in the area for reassurance and we thank the community for their ongoing support and assistance.”

It was reported that a man had entered the location and attempted to assault those in attendance while armed with a bladed weapon.

Police said nobody was seriously injured during the attempted assault but two women required medical attention for cuts and bruises.

A spokesman for the temple wrote on Facebook: “We can confirm that the incident happened after Sukhasan and Guru Granth Sahib Ji was not present in the Darbar Hall.

“The Gurdwara is cooperating fully with Kent Police who are treating the incident very seriously, with the district commander on site to support whilst the investigation is ongoing.”

They added that the temple would provide further information as it becomes available.

Lauren Sullivan, the MP for Gravesham, said: “I am shocked and saddened by the incident at the gurdwara in Gravesend.

“My thoughts are with those hurt, their family, and their community.

“I would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response to this awful event.

“Full details are still emerging and there are many rumours running about, so it is right that we let the emergency services deal with the situation and complete their investigation and release the information as they can.”

Security minister Dan Jarvis also posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was being updated about the attack, adding: “All communities must be safe in their places of worship.”