Explosion at Sikh Gurdwara injures 3 in western Germany

German police say three people have been injured in an apparently deliberate explosion at a Sikh temple in the western city of Essen.

A spokesman for Essen police told The Associated Press that a masked person is reported to have fled the scene shortly after the blast at 7 pm on Saturday.

Spokesman Lars Lindemann said the explosion was "quite violent," blowing out several windows. One of the injured was said to be in a serious condition.

Lindemann says police are working on the assumption that the explosion was caused deliberately but that there are no indications it was a terrorist incident. He says the temple had hosted a wedding earlier in the day and those injured are believed to have been among the guests.  

Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said the matter was being followed up with local authorities.

Distressed to hear of an explosion in a Gurudwara in Essen in Germany. Our Mission is following up w/ local authorities on ground situation

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 17, 2016