Boy, 17, is arrested after two Sikh worshippers ‘stabbed’ at Gurdwara
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two worshippers were reportedly stabbed at a Sikh temple on Thursday night.
Dramatic video shows the teenager being pinned to the floor by police and detained following the major incident at a Gurdwara in Gravesend, Kent.
Other footage shows injured worshippers stood outside the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara with cuts on their arms, hands and wrists.
New Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner had visited the same Gurdwara two weeks ago, where she met with leaders and discussed Labour’s partnerships with faith communities ahead of the general election.
Kent Police said that two people sustained non life-threatening injuries and that they are not looking for any other suspects.
A huge police presence remained in Gravesend overnight, with multiple officers and an air ambulance called to the scene.
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two worshippers were reportedly stabbed at a Sikh temple on Thursday night
Police descended on the Gurdwara after reports of worshippers sustaining injuries
New Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner had visited the same Gurdwara two weeks ago
A spokesman for the force said: ‘Kent Police was called at 8.10pm on Thursday 11 July to a report of a disturbance at a Gurdwara on Saddington Street in Gravesend.
‘It was reported that two people had sustained injuries that were not considered to be life threatening and are being treated locally.
‘A 17-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
‘Officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident but remain on scene while enquiries are ongoing.’
One resident told Kent Online: ‘The police helicopter was circling over the town centre at around 8pm, shortly afterwards the air ambulance landed in the grounds of the Gurdwara.
‘There were two ambulances and five police vehicles parked in Trinity Road which was taped off by Holy Trinity primary school.
‘A neighbour said that she’d heard that two people had been stabbed inside the gurdwara with a large knife.’
Dr Lauren Sullivan, the Labour MP for Gravesham, said: ‘I am shocked and saddened by the incident at the Gurdwara in Gravesend this evening. My thought are with those hurt, their family, and the 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.’
