Three Priests Narrowly Escape Arson Attack on Wolverhampton Gurdwara

April 20, 2006

Source: SikhNet/BBC News

http://www.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/news.nsf/NewsArchive/CF2AED19FAD7504987257156006190A5

On April 20, 2006 BBC News reported, "Three Sikh Priests were led to safety last night following an arson attempt on a Sikh Gurdwara in Bilston.

The emergency services were called out just before 0100 BST to put out fires started using two large bins placed in front of the two doors of the Temple.

Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Arthur Street is close to Bilston town centre and was attacked in what is thought to have been a racially motivated act of violence. Local residents are reported to have seen three youths running away from the Gurdwara and alerted the fire crew accordingly. The prompt response of the residents played a large part in saving the lives of the three men. Two fires were started at separate parts of the Temple. The main worship room was saved from the fire by the aluminum shutters in place in front of the main entrance of the Gurdwara itself. The second fire burned through a side door where it spread into the communal kitchens and onto the second floor on which the priests sleeping quarters are situated.

Initial estimates place the cost of damages caused by the attack at around �20,000."