BERLIN: At least 11 people were injured after a violent clash broke out inside a gurdwara in the Duisburg area in the German city of Moers, prompting a major police response and the deployment of special tactical units, according to German media reports.
The incident reportedly involved around 40 individuals and escalated rapidly into a physical confrontation inside the religious premises.
Visuals circulating on social media, claimed to be from inside the gurdwara, show members of two groups engaging in a violent altercation. Reports indicate that sharp weapons, including knives and kirpans, were used during the clash. Some accounts also suggest that pepper spray was deployed and a firearm was discharged inside the premises, although authorities are still verifying these claims.
German newspaper Bild reported that the exact cause of the confrontation is under investigation, but preliminary findings suggest the violence may be linked to disputes over the election of a new gurdwara management board.
These internal disagreements are also believed to involve control over gurdwara funds, with rival groups allegedly contesting authority and financial management.