A BUDDHIST temple in Kingsbury has been attacked again after vandals hurled bricks through the front windows.

A gang of men smashed six windows at the Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Temple, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage in the latest in a string of attacks.

Monks in the Kingsbury Road Five saw five men in their twenties repeatedly hurling bricks from the pavement at around 3.15am on Wednesday.

The men then fled the scene in a black sports car after one of the monks triggered an alarm linked directly to Brent Police.

The temple has now been attacked at least eight times in the last two years.

In January, a petrol bomb was left on the temple's driveway searing the front wall and causing considerable damage to the windows.

In September last year, yobs smashed windows and attacked the temple's vehicles parked outside, and in another incident, the Sri Lankan flag which flies outside was set on fire.

Buddhist leaders have told the Harrow Times they believe the attacks are related to the current civil war in Sri Lanka.

They alleged the vandals are sympathisers of the Tamil Tigers, a rebel group which is fighting an increasingly intense and bloody war against government troops in Sri Lanka.

No one has been injured in the attacks, although the temple has had the panic alarm installed which automatically calls the police as a result of the repeated attacks.

Police are investigating the latest incident of vandalism and have stepped up patrols around the temple as a result.

Detective Sergeant Gail Smith, of Brent Police Community Safety Unit, is leading the investigation, and has asked for any witnesses to call her on 0208 733 3754, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.