Police arrested 55 people and seized bladed weapons after dozens of men occupied a Gurudwara in central England, on Sunday. A Sikh youth group said it was protesting the temple’s use for interfaith weddings.
The Warwickshire Police force said officers were called early on Sunday morning to the Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick temple in Leamington Spa, a town around 160 kilometers northwest of London.
Police initially said the group consisted of 20 to 30 people. Several hours after the incident began, police said they had made 55 arrests on suspicion of aggravated trespassing, adding that no one was injured.
The force said “a significant number” of bladed weapons had been seized, though it didn’t say of what kind. Some Sikh men traditionally wear a ceremonial dagger known as a kirpan.
Police said the incident wasn’t related to terrorism, but was “an escalation of an ongoing local dispute.”
On its Facebook page, a group called Sikh Youth Birmingham said that a peaceful protest was taking place against an interfaith wedding due to be held at the temple to uphold the “sanctity” of the Sikh religious wedding ceremony.
Some Sikhs have previously objected to mixed-faith weddings taking place at Sikh temples.
(With inputs from AP)
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