Boy, 17, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after 'blade attack' on Gurdwara in Gravesend

A boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a religiously-aggravated public order offence after an attack at a Gurdwara last night.

Kent Police said the 17-year-old is being questioned after reports someone had attempted to assault worshippers at a Sikh temple.

The suspect went into the Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend, Kent, on Thursday evening while armed with a bladed weapon.

Two female victims were left with cuts and bruises to their hands and arms but no one was seriously injured, the force confirmed.

The weapon was recovered from the scene and no one else is being sought by police.

Police officers were called to the temple at 8.10pm on Thursday evening.

It was reported that a male had entered the location and attempted to assault those in attendance with a bladed weapon.

The force confirmed they were treating it as an isolated incident. 

Kent Police's Detective Superintendent Ian Dyball said: 'We understand the community's concerns in relation to the events at the Gurdwara, however we are treating it as an isolated incident.

'Patrols will remain in the area for reassurance and we thank the community for their ongoing support and assistance.'

Yesterday Gravesend Gurdwara spokesman Jagdev Singh Virdee told Kent Online: 'A person has been arrested by Kent Police on suspicion of attempted murder, after entering the Gurdwara and creating an incident in one of the Darbar Halls.

'The Gurdwara is cooperating fully with Kent Police who are treating the incident very seriously, with the District Commander on site to support whilst the investigation is ongoing.

He said the incident happened after Sukhasan, a Sikh closing ritual, had taken place, and confirmed the holy book Guru Granth Sahib Ji was not present in the hall.

The spokesman continued: 'The Gurdwara is cooperating fully with Kent Police who are treating the incident very seriously, with the District Commander on site to support whilst the investigation is ongoing. The person was spotted by the Gurdwara security team and police were called immediately.

'We will update the Sangat over the next few days as more information becomes available.'

On Thursday evening, 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.'

Angela Rayner, the new Deputy Prime Minister, visited the Gurdwara in Kent less than two weeks before the attack.

As part of the general election campaign, she met with leaders of the Gurdwara alongside Labour's candidate Dr Lauren Sullivan - who later took the Gravesham seat from long-standing Conservative MP Adam Holloway.

Detailing her visit in a post on X, Rayner said: 'It was an honour to visit Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend with Labour's candidate Lauren Sullivan.

'We met with leaders of the Gurdwara and discussed Labour's commitment to working in partnership with faith communities to deliver the change Britain needs.'

Reacting to the news, Dr Sullivan, the newly elected MP for Gravesham, said: 'I am shocked and saddened by the incident at the Gurdwara in Gravesend this evening. My thoughts 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.'

This is a breaking news story.