Armed Warwickshire police on Sunday surrounded Gurdwara Sahib Leamington Spa and Warwick after a group of almost 30 men carrying blades entered it in the morning, but clarified that it was not being treated as a terrorist incident.
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A group of “men armed with blades” have occupied a Sikh temple in Leamington Spa, police say.
Police said the incident wasn’t related to terrorism, but was “an escalation of an ongoing local dispute”.
Police officers are now inside the temple on Tachbrook Drive negotiating with the group, it said. “As a result of reports that the men were in possession of these weapons we deployed armed officers as a precaution”, he added.
Police officers and religious leaders are at the scene to negotiate a peaceful solution.
A police cordon has gone up around the temple and passers-by have been told to avoid the area until the matter is resolved.
Warwickshire police said fifty-five people have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
According to reports, the episode could be over objections to a mixed-race wedding, but this has not been confirmed.
“We would like to thank local people for their patience while we dealt with this incident”.
A Sikh youth group said it was protesting the temple’s use for interfaith weddings.
Jatinder Singh Birdi, a former treasurer at the temple, said a marriage between a Sikh and non-Sikh couple was due to take place, the BBC reported.
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‘The general consensus is people are respectful of mixed marriages if the traditions are respected. “Nothing has happened on this level before”.
