United Sikhs, the Sikh Coalition and Saldef, the Sikh American Legal and Defense Fund, issued a statement “unequivocally” condemning the attack, which left 13 dead and 31 wounded.

“We are united in concern and sympathy for the victims and their families, and for the community at Fort Hood,” they said.

But the organisations are also urging members of the Sikh Community to be alert to the possibility of “misguided retributive violence”.

They state: “As Sikhs, we are regrettably aware that, in the past, similar tragedies have led to the scapegoating of entire communities based on actual or perceived ethnicity, religion, and national origin. We call on political leaders, the media, and the public to set a tone of unity as the investigation unfolds and the healing process begins.”

They offer Sikhs advice on how to stay safe, recommending they read Los Angeles police department guidance on Being Street Smart, which can be found online at
http://www.lapdonline.org/prevent_crime/content_basic_view/1370

They call on local Sikh communities to develop proactive relationships with the law enforcement agencies  – including contacting the police, suggesting co-operative measures on hate crime prevention and asking for more frequent patrols around gurdwaras.

The organisations have drafted a message which could be sent out to appropriate bodies. It points out the possibility of a backlash against the Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian communities and asks that an emergency bulletin be issued to local law enforcement agencies and community members to ensure that police officers and the communities they serve take appropriate precautionary measures.

The organisations are in talks with federal government to implement a national rapid response system that will safeguard vulnerable communities from hate crimes.