A major police operation took place at a gurdwara in western Germany after reports of weapons and gun violence during a clash involving Sikh groups. As per German media reports, the incident took place at Moers on Sunday, where a dispute at a gurdwara turned into a large scale altercation.
According to witnesses who spoke to German tabloid Bild, more than forty individuals were involved , with some some reportedly using knives, pepper spray, and guns.
The clash left at least eleven injured, with many suffering head injuries. Emergency responders arrived at the site to tend to the wounded.
Footage of the altercation went viral on social media, showing kirpans being pulled out as the situation escalated. Kirpans are small, curved, and single-edged swords or daggers carried by some members of the Sikh community as part of a religious requirement.
According to German broadcaster WDR, the clash stemmed from a long-standing internal dispute within the community.
“Shortly before the prayer service, attackers used pepper spray, then one fired a pistol. I also saw knives,” a witness told Bild “The background is a dispute between former committee members and the current ones. It also involves money belonging to the community. There have been problems and trouble for quite some time. But mainly it’s about influence and who has the stay here in the temple.”
Nearly 100 officers were dispatched to the scene where the police detained one individual as investigators collected evidence. The deployment included a Special Task Force (SEK) unit from Dusseldorf.
Police officers sealed off the area while a helicopter was deployed for aerial surveillance. Shell casings were found which suggested the use of a blank-firing pistol. Authorities later confirmed that no armed suspect was found inside the premises. Bild also reported that the firearm in question was yet to be found.
A police spokesperson told NRZ that the ongoing investigation is ‘proceeding in all directions’.
