Moers (Rajeev Sharma): A serious clash inside a gurdwara in the Duisburg area of Moers, Germany, left at least 11 people injured, prompting a swift and heavy police intervention, officials confirmed.
The incident unfolded on Monday when tensions between two groups escalated into a physical confrontation within the religious premises. Eyewitnesses reported that the fight quickly turned violent, with participants allegedly using kirpans and other sharp-edged objects.
German daily Bild reported that around 40 individuals were involved in the scuffle. Authorities deployed multiple police units, including specialized forces, to control the situation and secure the area.
Witness accounts suggest that pepper spray was used at the outset of the clash, followed by the discharge of a firearm. Investigators later recovered shell casings from the scene, indicating that a blank-firing pistol may have been used, although the weapon itself has not yet been recovered.
Initial findings point to an internal dispute linked to the election of the gurdwara’s management committee and disagreements over financial control. Sources indicated that tensions between rival factions had been simmering for some time before erupting into violence.
Several worshippers reportedly fled the gurdwara in panic as the situation escalated. Emergency teams treated the injured on-site, and officials confirmed that none of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries.
Police have taken at least one individual into custody, and further investigations are ongoing to establish the sequence of events and identify all those involved. Authorities are also examining whether the clash was pre-planned.
