Leamington Spa temple 'occupied' by dozens of armed men, police say

Sikh temple occupied by '20-30 men in possession of bladed items'

A Sikh temple in Leamington Spa has been occupied by dozens of men carrying "bladed weapons", police in Warwickshire have said.

Police say they are not treating it as a terrorist incident, but armed officers have nonetheless been deployed to the scene.

The apparent occupation began at around 6.45am on Sunday morning, with reports of between 20 and 30 men entering the gurdwara on Tachbrook Drive.

It later emerged that the occupation appears to be a protest against a marriage between a Sikh and a Muslim due to take place at the temple.

"​This is currently being treated as aggravated trespass and at this time we believe that it is an escalation of an ongoing local dispute," Warwickshire Police said in a statement.

Members of the public have been warned to avoid the area and a police cordon has been set up, while religious officials at are the temple assisting police.

"We would like to reassure people that this is not being treated as a terrorist incident," a police spokesperson said.

"We believe that some of the men are in possession of bladed items and as such armed officers have been deployed to the scene. Officers are inside the Temple to negotiate a peaceful resolution."

Jatinder Singh Birdi, a former treasurer at the temple, confirmed a marriage had been due to take place in the temple on Sunday morning between a Sikh and non-Sikh.

He told the BBC: "There have been tensions that have been going on for a couple of years with some people objecting to mixed marriages in taking place in the gurdwara," he said.

"The general consensus is people are respectful of mixed marriages if the traditions are respected.

"Nothing has happened on this level before.

"This is meant to be one of the happiest moments of somebody's life - it shows a lack of respect.”