Armed men occupy Sikh temple in the UK

September 11, 2016 19:04

A group of 20-30 men, believed to be carrying "bladed weapons", occupied a Sikh temple in the UK today, apparently opposing a mixed marriage between a Sikh and a non-Sikh.

Warwickshire Police said about 20 or 30 men entered the Gurudwara Sahib in Leamington Spa, earlier this morning and occupied the Sikh temple.

Jatinder Singh Birdi, a former treasurer at the temple, said a marriage between a Sikh and non-Sikh couple was due to take place at the Gurudwara, the BBC reported.

Police officers are currently inside the temple on Tachbrook Drive negotiating with the group, it said. A force spokesman said the occupation by the men was being treated as "an aggravated trespass" from "the escalation of a local dispute" and was not a terror incident.

Police have cordoned off the area while officers and religious leaders try to end the stand-off.

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

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