- Police received a call about a man walking in traffic around 4:50 a.m..
- The man entered the temple around 5 a.m. and attacked members of the sangat during morning prayers ahead of a wedding; he was subdued by congregants until police arrived.
- Police found the suspect carrying what appeared to be a screwdriver.
- Police held a news conference Friday, revealing the suspect is a 27-year-old known to police with a significant history of violent offences.
- The suspect had been released from a federal institution the day before the attack.
- The EPS hate crimes unit has been engaged; charges are pending against the suspect.
- The suspect was released after serving about 20 months of a 31-month sentence and was required to report to a halfway house in Edmonton but did not.
- Police are investigating the motive, and the EPS hate crimes unit has been engaged; charges are pending against the suspect.
- The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) expressed concern, noting the incident comes at an alarming time for Sikhs in Alberta, citing recent threats to gurdwaras.
Two men were stabbed during morning prayers at the Nanaksar gurdwara in north Edmonton on Friday, with police arresting a 27-year-old man known for a significant history of violent offences. The suspect had just been released from prison after serving 20 months of a 31-month sentence for aggravated assault and assaulting a peace officer.
The attack occurred around 5 a.m. as congregants were preparing for a wedding. “He came in and caused a disruption,” said Harmeek Sehgal, a representative from the temple. “The guys were able to subdue him down, and the police was called at that time.” Police responded to initial reports of a man walking in traffic before receiving multiple 911 calls about the stabbings.
The Edmonton Police Service confirmed that the two victims, aged 75 and 51, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at the scene. “The last I heard, they both were talking,” Sehgal added.
The police are investigating the motive behind the attack, with the hate crimes unit involved. “When we label things a ‘terror attack,’ the first thing we look at is if it’s a hate crime first,” an EPS spokesperson stated. The incident comes amid rising concerns for the Sikh community in Alberta, following recent threats to gurdwaras in Calgary and an assault on a Sikh truck driver earlier this month.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada expressed alarm over the incident, highlighting the need for increased safety measures for Sikh places of worship.
“The suspect, a 27-year-old, was released from a federal institution the day before the attack after serving about 20 months of a 31-month sentence. Police have engaged the EPS hate crimes unit as they investigate a possible motive, and charges are pending.”
Global News
