Man fires at police investigating Indian temple attack in Austria

Jun 15, 2009, 14:56 GMT

Vienna - Vienna police investigating the recent attack on an Sikh temple came under fire Monday, according to media reports.

No one was hurt when the man, an Austrian citizen of Indian descent, fired two shots from a handgun at officers conducting a search of his house.

Anti-terrorism police units quickly managed to subdue the 26-year- old Austrian citizen who is of Indian descent and whose name was given only as Amrit S.

On May 24, a religious leader was killed and a second seriously injured at the Vienna temple of the Sikh sect Dera Sach Khand.

Additional firearms and knives were found in his home, the Austrian press agency quoted a Vienna police spokesman as saying.

Police said Amrit S. had had contact with the six Indian-born suspects who have been detained so far for allegedly participating in the temple attack.

Investigators have not confirmed media reports that the incident was likely motivated by a feud between the sect and orthodox Sikhs.

Riots erupted in northern India following the news that religious leader Sant Rama Nand had been killed at the Vienna temple, and that the sect's chief Niranjan Dass had been injured, along with 16 others.

The violent unrest in Punjab and neighbouring Haryana state claimed three lives and left dozens injured.