KENT, UK—A group of teenage vandals filmed themselves smashing up the inside of a Sikh temple and then gloated about their mindless destruction on social media.
The yobs targeted the Gurdwara in Gravesend, Kent, yesterday evening – wrecking glass cabinets, throwing plates at walls and hurling sacred Sikh symbols in a show of shocking disrespect.
Footage of the youngsters, believed to be from local schools, has been viewed over 67,000 times since it was posted on Facebook with many calling for violent retribution.
The rampage was first posted on Snapchat by one of the group and shows the thugs bragging about their handiwork with captions saying ‘temple got mash up’ and ‘Lool no chill’.
It is not known how old the group of boys are but rumours on social media have suggested that a number of them are part of Charlton Athletic’s youth team set up.
However, this has not been confirmed by the club.
The youngsters, some of whom are wearing hooded tops with their faces covered, run around with poles during their rampage and one can be seen hurling a metal Khanda – the sacred symbol of Sikhism.
Gravesend has a high Sikh population with Sikhism the second largest religion in the town after Christianity, according to a 2015 census.
The Gurdwara attacked by the youths has been closed for around five years, but is still seen as a sacred place to be respected and protected by the community.
The shocking footage has been shared over 1,250 times since it was posted by Sam Cheema – who did not capture the footage himself, but filmed the clip after it was posted on his Snapchat storyline.
Infuriating both members of the Sikh community and those of other faiths, around 1,100 people have shared their views on the shocking act – with many people threatening violence to the perpetrators.
Sacred: The temple has been empty for a number of years but is still seen as a place to be respected
Tim Smith posted: ‘Disappointed is an understatement.. honestly respect is really not that hard. Even if you don’t like someone or something it doesn’t mean it’s right to do this…’
Jazz Doklu wrote: ‘Disgusting behaviour by sad disrespectful young people – no excuse to damage others property.’
Amritpal Singh Dhesi said: ‘Absolutely shocking, I used to go to that gurdwara in my uni days! They will have what’s coming.’
Former mayor of Gravesham, the borough in which Gravesend resides, and chairman of the local Labour party, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, said he felt let down by the scenes.
Discussing the reaction to the video, he told MailOnline:’I think there’s a lot of anger and a lot of disappointment.
‘Even though the temple has been empty for five years, the vandalism is still considered highly disrespectful and when the group posted the video their use of words was highly disappointing.
‘We’re fortunate to be blessed with living in such a harmonious community so to see something like this, and given it is believed to involve children who go to local schools, was quite shocking.
‘They were foolish enough to film the video and they were easily identifiable to their peers at school, so some of the children in their classes have been highly disappointed as well.’
Mr Dhesi implored others to avoid lashing back at the youths.
He said: ‘When I saw the comments on Facebook and saw the anger bubbling up, I told people that violence is not the best option. The police are aware and dealing with it accordingly.
‘It’s not advisable for anyone to take things into their own hands.’
UK based Sikh charity, Sikh 2 Inspire, took to their social media page to blast the video.
A post on their Facebook page said: ‘Shocking and very sad video of a Gurdwara building in Gravesend being smashed by thugs!
Wreckage: It is believed the youths went to local schools and police are now said to be investigating the crime
‘This video was discovered last night showing thugs not only smashing up the Gurdwara building but posting it themselves on social media.
‘This building was part of the old Gurdwara complex and is not the new Gurdwara Sahib.
‘We expect that the Police will be making a large number of arrests this morning as the faces of the culprits are visible and are known by locals.
‘We shall have to see what reaction we get from the Police as this has made Sikhs and non Sikhs furious.’
The incident has been reported to Kent Police but it is not known if any arrests have been made.
A spokeswoman said: ‘Officers were called at 12.07am on Thursday 23 June to a report of criminal damage at a derelict property in Clarence Place, Gravesend.
‘Officers have attended and an investigation is currently ongoing.’
