A man involved in an alleged machete attack on the grounds of a South Auckland Sikh temple has handed himself in to authorities. Video / Supplied
A man has been arrested and charged after he handed himself in following an alleged machete attack on the grounds of a South Auckland Sikh temple.
Daljit Singh, a spokesman for the Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand, told the Herald the man contacted them wanting to carry out aformal apology at the Takanini Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib, in South Auckland.
Police have since arrived this afternoon to take the man into custody.
Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Taylor said the man was taken into custody after he “presented on site” and was charged with two counts of assault with a weapon and one count of threats to kill.
“He will remain in custody overnight and will appear in the Papakura District Court tomorrow,” Taylor said.
Police will oppose bail, Taylor said. He thanked the community for their support and confirmed police were not treating the incident as a hate-motivated crime as the people involved were known to each other.
A man is taken away by police after handing himself into the Takanini Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib on Takanini School Rd today after an alleged attack.
Police were called to the sports ground just behind the temple about 5pm yesterday after reports that two men had been injured in an assault.
Singh claimed the man had turned up with a machete that had been hidden in a bag. Both victims suffered minor injuries.
“The security handled the man appropriately, but when they found there was [no] serious injury, somehow, they’ve taken him outside and let him go. That was a concern for me.
“Not a sword, but a machete. He actually hid it in his bag. He was wearing quite a long jersey,” Singh said.
The incident happened at a sports tournament that had been booked by a private group, Singh said. Anyone in the community can book a function at the sports complex.
“A gentleman came with a large knife and was trying to stab one guy. He got saved, but someone else who was trying to save him had a minor injury,” Singh said.
Although the sports complex is on the same grounds as the temple, those involved in the incident – including the two victims – are not connected to the temple in any way, he said.
The alleged offender is said to have arrived from India about three days ago.
It is understood the incident was over a dispute about money, Singh said.
Earlier police said a man was on the run after attacking a person at the temple as well as injuring a bystander who tried to break up the assault.
They would be patrolling the temple to reassure frightened people who might have witnessed the attack.
Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Taylor said two people were injured on Sunday evening at Takanini Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib on Takanini School Rd.
He said the offender entered the temple to approach a man known to him, who was at the rear of the building.
Bystanders had to step in and another person was injured during the fracas.
Security staff removed the man from the temple before he drove off.
The same vehicle was stopped in the Manurewa area later that evening, and while police spoke to the driver, they were unable to locate the wanted man.
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