Two people were injured in a stabbing at a gurdwara in Edmonton, Canada, early Friday morning, with Canadian authorities investigating the motive behind the attack. The accused man was arrested at the scene but had not been publicly identified, according to police. The incident occurred at Nanaksar Gurdwara at around 5 am local time when the man allegedly entered the premises and attempted to gain access to the prayer area. According to police, the suspect was stopped by two male patrons of the gurdwara who prevented him from entering the prayer area. The man allegedly responded by stabbing both individuals. The victims, aged 75 and 51, suffered minor injuries and were in stable condition, authorities said.
They were among the people present at the gurdwara when the incident took place. Witnesses intervened before police arrived and were able to restrain the accused, according to reports citing law enforcement. The suspect was subsequently taken into custody. Police have begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including what prompted the man to enter the gurdwara and attack the two worshippers. No motive has been established so far. The attack drew a strong reaction from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who described it as “appalling”.
His remarks came as the incident raised concerns within the local Sikh community, particularly given that it followed recent reports of threats involving Sikh places of worship in Alberta. Authorities are expected to examine whether the stabbing was an isolated incident or whether any broader circumstances need to be considered. The incident comes about a week after police confirmed that they were investigating threatening phone calls made to two Sikh gurdwaras in Calgary. Those threats had prompted concern among members of the Sikh community and increased attention on security at places of worship. Police have not indicated that the Edmonton stabbing is connected to those earlier threat calls, and the motive in the latest incident remains under investigation.
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Gurdwaras are places of worship and community gathering for Sikhs and regularly host large numbers of people for prayers, religious services and community activities. The attack at Nanaksar Gurdwara occurred during the early morning hours, when the suspect allegedly attempted to enter the prayer area. The intervention by witnesses prevented the situation from escalating further before officers arrived and detained the accused. Investigators are now working to establish the full sequence of events and determine the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s actions.
Police have not released the accused’s identity or provided details about possible charges at this stage. The two injured men were reported to be in stable condition following the attack, and their injuries were described as minor. The Edmonton incident has added to concerns about security at Sikh places of worship in Alberta following the recent threat calls in Calgary. However, authorities have yet to establish any connection between the incidents. The investigation into the stabbing remains ongoing, with police focusing on determining the motive and gathering evidence about what happened inside the gurdwara before and during the attack.
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