‘Sword-Wielding Gang’ Storm Sikh Temple In Leamington Spa

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Police cordoned off the roads around the temple – which is one of the largest Sikh temples outside of India.

Warwickshire Police said the matter was not being treated as a terrorist incident, but as “aggravated trespass”.

The Warwickshire Police force says officers were called early Sunday morning to the temple in Leamington Spa, a town 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of London.

“There are also religious leaders in the temple working with officers to negotiate a peaceful resolution”.

The protest was in response to the committee’s willful flouting of the Akal Takht’s edict of mixed-faith marriages not to be carried out at any Gurdwara Sahibs, worldwide.

Eyewitness Perry Phillips, 53, of Leamington Spa, said he saw a protest being held, reportedly against a “mixed marriage ceremony”, and some men had apparently taken swords into the building. Nobody was injured in the incident.

The Sikh community has reacted furiously and are now organizing protests at local police stations to highlight the completely disproportionate response to the peaceful protesters, who were sat cross-legged meditating.

“We would like to thank local people for their patience while we dealt with this incident”.

Mr Birdi said mixed marriages has been a contentious issue in the local Sikh community, with a minority opposing using the temple for such services.

The group tweeted: “Totally uncalled for & unnecessary #PeacefulProtest”.