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Crazed yobs run riot in temple

A MIDLAND Sikh temple was attacked by a gang of drunken youths who terrorised worshippers and stole money from the donation box.

Up to 20 teenagers, most of them black, ran amok through the popular Bibi Nanaki Sikh temple, in Rookery Road, Handsworth, Birmingham.

Temple committee chairman Sagoo Singh said he thought that the latest attack was probably connected to the race riots last month.

He said: "On the night of the riots another Sikh temple further down the road had its windows shot out by a gunman.

"I can only believe that the attack on our temple was a direct result of what happened in Lozells.

"Most of the gang were young black youths, though there were a couple of mixed race faces among them.

"It seems all Asians are regarded as a target for these gangs. They don't differentiate between Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus."

He added: "They were like crazed animals and were smelling of alcohol.

"They were swearing at the top of their voices, some of it racist abuse, and just going around knocking things over.

"We have a large donation box in the main hall and a few of the youths made a grab for it, but only got away with a bit of loose change.

"Some of them then grabbed worshippers' shoes, which are left outside the main hall, and threw them out into the road.

"We're just thankful no-one was physically hurt but it left everyone in shock. It was like a whirlwind had passed through."

Tory Councillor Arjan Singh, who represents Handsworth Wood, said the attack lasted about 30 minutes and left the congregation, mainly made up of women, badly shaken.

He said: "It was a holy day for Sikhs, our first prophet's birthday, so there was quite a few people who had come to worship. The gang seemed to come out of nowhere and at first everyone thought they had come to rob the place.

"They all looked frenzied, as if they were on drugs, and women and kids were running around trying to get to safety."

He said police arrived only after the gang had fled and accused officers of not taking the incident seriously.

He said: "The community here feel very vulnerable at the moment after what happened in Lozells. What we need is a lot more police presence in the area to deter these gangs whop feel they are untouchable."

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