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A man is on the run after attacking a person at a South Auckland Sikh Temple, as well as injuring a bystander who tried to break up the assault.

Police say they are not treating the crime as hate-motivated but 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 during the assault on Sunday evening at Takanini Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib on Takanini School Rd.

Taylor said the offender entered the temple to approach a man known to him, who was at the rear of the building.

Bystanders had to stop the assault , and another person was injured during the fracas.

Taylor said 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 .

Taylor said they are following “positive lines of enquiry” and are not treating the incident as a hate-motivated crime.

“We acknowledge that this incident was confronting for those who were present at the temple at the time.

“However, we have established that this incident occurred as a result of a dispute between two parties known to each other.

“Both victims have since received treatment at a local medical centre and fortunately, no one was seriously injured as a result.”

He said police would be carrying out reassurance patrols around the temple as a result of the incident.

Anyone with information that can assist inquiries can update police online now or call 105, using the reference number 250622/3501.