A COP was wounded as he tried to tackle a Sikh waving two Kirpan ceremonial daggers in a suburban cul-de-sac today.
The bearded suspect is alleged to have rowed with workmen on a building site just before 8am and pulled out the blades, carried by Sikhs as part of their religion.
The suspect wielded two Kirpan ceremonial daggers (stock picture)[/caption]
Police were called and armed cops swarmed to the village of Istead Rise, near Gravesend, Kent.
They spoke with the Sikh suspect who allegedly acted “in a threatening manner” and he was then Tasered with a 50,000-volt electric charge.
An officer suffered cuts to his hand as he tried to disarm the 29-year-old suspect, dressed all in black and wearing a turban.
He was handcuffed behind his back and arrested on suspicion of assault and possessing an offensive weapon.
The man was carried to a police van by cops with his feet tied and driven away.
Meanwhile, the officer was taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment.
A witness said: “The suspect had been sitting on a wall opposite a building site holding these two ceremonial swords and had smiled at a woman walking her dog.
“There was apparently some kind of row with builders on a site across the road and a minute or two later loads of police turned up with guns.
“One of the officers was hurt and it looked like there was a really bad cut to his hand and he was bleeding a lot.
“He was lying on the ground being treated by his colleagues.
“The man with the sword was then carried to a police van and driven away.”
A resident said: “It was about 8am. All of sudden there was police everywhere including armed police in body armour.
“We were all told to stay in our houses and then I saw the suspect being carried out with his feet tied.”
The suspect is said to live in the cul-de-sac and the resident said: ““I’ve seen the man walking around and he’s always got a Sikh dagger. It’s always on show.
“He’s such a nice man and his family are lovely.”
The small close was cordoned off by uniformed police today.
A further area in the close is also taped off near a building site as forensic officers in boiler suits carried out searches.
A Kent Police spokesman said officers were called to a report of a man with two bladed weapons at 7.46am.
The spokesman went on: “Patrols, including armed officers, attended Worcester Close where they spoke to a man outside a property.
“It is alleged he acted in a threatening manner and an officer discharged a taser.
“A 29-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon. He was taken into custody and an investigation is underway.
“During the arrest, an officer suffered a cut to his hand and he later went to hospital for medical attention.”