A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a religiously aggravated public order offence after a sword attack near a gurdwara in Kent left two young females with injuries. Police are investigating the state of the teenager’s mental health, the Guardian understands. The incident started inside the Guru Nanak Darbar gurdwara in Gravesend at 8.10pm on Thursday, Kent police said. The gurdwara committee member Narinderjit Singh said a youth had grabbed a sword kept in a Sikh place of worship during a ceremony. He was seized by security but broke free and ran out of the gurdwara. It is believed that two females were then attacked with the sword in a street close by. During the incident it is alleged anti-Sikh language was used. Detectives are investigating the ethnic and religious background of their suspect, with one possibility being that he is of Sikh heritage. One source said the suspect was known in the local community. Video of the incident shows a young male being detained by onlookers outside the gurdwara. Police then arrive and grapple with the person on the ground, shouting “get on your face” and “roll over”. One officer holds a Taser as he and a colleague try to get handcuffs on the suspect as onlookers continue helping to restrain the man. Video shows two young females with cut wounds. Police said the attack did not lead to serious injuries. The gurdwara’s general secretary, Jagdev Singh Virdee, said the incident had been a shock to the community. “To have this sort of incident happening in a gurdwara is a shock to the whole community because we’re welcoming of everybody and we like to remain in high spirits.” He added: “We don’t want to be seen as not welcoming people from any community – gurdwaras are open to everyone and we want to keep it that way so we will be reviewing our security to see how we can improve it even more.” Kent police said: “It was reported that a male had entered the location and attempted to assault those in attendance while armed with a bladed weapon. Nobody was seriously injured during the incident but two women required medical attention for cuts and bruises. “Officers attended and arrested a 17-year-old boy from Gravesend on suspicion of attempted murder and a religiously aggravated public order offence. They also recovered a bladed weapon from the scene. Nobody else is currently sought in connection with the incident. The gurdwara is a key part of life for an estimated 15,000 Sikhs in Gravesend and the Kent area. As well as a place to pray, it offers education services for children, and its construction was funded by the local community. Det Supt Ian Dyball of Kent police said: “We understand the community’s concerns in relation to the events at the gurdwara, however we are treating it as an isolated incident. Patrols will remain in the area for reassurance and we thank the community for their ongoing support and assistance.”