Image: Maidstone Crown Court :::
Kent Police report a teenage boy has appeared at court following a disturbance at a place of worship in Gravesend. Kent Police was called to the Sri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara at 8.10pm on Thursday 11 July 2024.
It was said there was a disturbance inside the premises and two women had received minor injuries following an assault outside the building shortly afterwards. Officers attended the scene where a local teenage boy was arrested. Nobody was seriously injured during the incident and the constables recovered a bladed weapon.
On Saturday 13 July, a 17-year-old boy was charged by investigators from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, using or threatening unlawful violence, threats to kill, threatening a person with a bladed weapon and possessing a bladed article in a public place.
The teenager appeared before Maidstone Crown Court later the same day where he was further charged with attempted grievous bodily harm. He was bailed by the court and was immediately detained by officers for a mental health assessment. He will next appear at Medway Youth Court on Thursday 18 July.
North Kent Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Angie Chapman, said:
‘This is an isolated incident and our initial enquiries suggest it is not terrorism-related. We are treating it as religiously aggravated. It was upsetting for local people and our officers will remain on patrol in the area for reassurance and engagement with the community. I would like to thank the local community for their ongoing support and assistance while this investigation continues.’