The search is on for a man caught on camera ransacking a Sikh house of worship in Federal Way.
Surveillance video KIRO 7 received shows a man smashing through a glass door to gain entry into the Khalsa Gurmat Center on Friday.
According to a post from the worship center, the main hall and prayer area was vandalized, including windows and electronic control panels. Several computers and monitors were reportedly stolen too.
The damage was discovered on Saturday.
“We are deeply saddened that someone would harm our place of worship and a place of learning for our children,” said Dr. Jasmit Singh, a Washington Sikh community leader. “The Sikh community has been an integral part of Washington’s culture and economy for generations, and our gurdwaras are where we come together as a community. We thank local law enforcement for their prompt attention to this disturbing case — including understanding why it is so important to explore the possibility that bias might be involved.”
Sikh community members spent the day cleaning up the mess and have estimated the damage to be in the tens of thousands of dollars at least.
Community members who spoke with police said investigators are not ruling out anything, including a possible hate crime.
The incident remains under investigation.
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