A gang of teenagers who ransacked a former temple and laughed about it on social media are to come face-to-face with the victims of their actions and explain themselves.

The group of 19 youths were arrested for damaging the former temple in Clarence Place, Gravesend, on June 22.

Video footage of the attack was posted on Snapchat and it was viewed more than 70,000 times overnight.

It showed a gang of teens aged 14 to 16 throwing objects, breaking glass and causing damage to the religious site as well as appearing to celebrate their actions.

The footage sparked a wave of anger, with some suggesting the attack was racially motivated, but police dismissed this.

The teenagers are now being dealt with out of court, through restorative justice.

Acting Chief Inspector on the case, Gary Woodward said: “In these situations we are largely guided by the victims. In this case it was the Sikh community.

“They didn’t want to criminalise these youngsters. They wanted them to learn from this.”

Often under these community orders, those who have vandalised are tasked with clearing up the mess but given the already derelict state of the building, the community decided this was not necessary.

Instead, they have been offered the chance to attend the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Saddington Street and meet representatives of the community to admit their crimes.

The interviews will be carried out on an individual basis with each youth in turn, and their parents or guardians.

Mr Woodward added: “Restorative justice is not an easy outcome. Having to sit there in front of your victim, explain yourself and hear how it’s impacted on them is tough.

“Their families are there with them, having to sit though it, listen to everything and go through that embarrassment too.”

Tarsem Singh Mahil, general secretary of the Gravesend gurdwara, said: “We don’t want to ruin their lives with charges against them. They’re only boys.

“What they did was wrong, no doubt. They made a mistake but at the same time we have to look to their futures as well.

“Apologising to the Sikh community in this case is enough. Our religion is always about forgiveness.”

In the meantime the teenagers have all offered to write letters of apology, which can be shared around the Sikh community.

Mr Woodward added: “They have done this of their own volition and in it will explain exactly how sorry they are, and what they have learnt.”