A fight involving more than 40 people inside a Gudwara in Moers in Duisburg, Germany, has resulted in injuries to at least 11 people, local sources reveal. The fight erupted on Monday and was said to have required a major police presence, including that of tactical units.
Videos posted on social media allegedly show scenes of fights occurring inside the Gudwara and involve the use of an arsenal of frightening weapons, according to witnesses and local press. Alongside traditional kirpans and knives, there were reports of pepper spray being used and even the discharge of a firearm. While the weapon itself has not been recovered, investigators believe it may have been a blank-firing pistol based on shell casings found at the scene.
It seems like the origins of this murderous quarrel are purely administrative in nature, rather than religious. According to preliminary reports from the police, it seems that there was a pre-existing conflict concerning the appointment of the board of directors. Locals said that the church said that there had been ongoing disputes between several factions concerning financial matters.
One 56-year-old witness described the scene as a calculated ambush, claiming that attackers began spraying pepper spray shortly before the service was due to start. "Then one of them fired a pistol. I also saw knives," he told reporters, adding that many worshippers fled the building in a panic. He noted that while the situation was horrific, it was fortunate that none of the injuries sustained were life-threatening.
Paramedics and emergency doctors treated the 11 casualties on-site, and at least one suspect was seen being led away in handcuffs. The criminal investigation department has now taken over the case, meticulously working to identify the primary aggressors and untangle the web of financial and personal disputes that led to such a public display of violence within a place of worship.
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