Two men were stabbed inside a gurdwara in Edmonton, Canada, early Friday after a man allegedly disrupted morning prayers ahead of a wedding ceremony, police and community representatives said. The incident happened shortly after 5 a.m. at Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple in northeastern Edmonton. Police arrested a man at the scene, while two injured men were taken for medical treatment.
Edmonton gurdwara stabbing: What happened
The attack took place near 14 Street and Horsehill Road shortly after 5 a.m., according to the Edmonton Police Service.
Emergency personnel treated two adult men for injuries that were described as non-life-threatening.
Officers responding to the incident arrested a 27-year-old man at the scene. According to the Edmonton Police Service, the arrested man has a history of violent crimes. Additionally, the suspect, recently released from federal custody after serving time for aggravated assault and assaulting a police officer, was reportedly unaccounted for after failing to check into his required halfway house.
Police have not yet announced a motive. They have also not said whether the stabbing is being investigated as a hate-motivated crime.
Morning prayers disrupted before wedding
Temple representative Harmeek Sehgal said the man entered the gurdwara and disrupted morning prayers being held before a wedding scheduled later that morning.
According to Sehgal, people conducting the prayers first tried to speak with the man, but he did not cooperate.
“The guy apparently wasn’t listening to anything. So they (tried) to subdue the guy. The guy tried to push back,” he said.
Sehgal said the men were eventually able to subdue the man and police were called. Two men were stabbed during the confrontation.
Two victims were conscious after attack
Sehgal said both victims were conscious after the stabbing and were able to speak.
“The last I heard, they both were talking,” he said.
The incident caused concern among members of the Sikh community, but the wedding ceremony continued at the gurdwara at about 10.30 a.m.
Sehgal said there was no reported damage to the gurdwara’s sacred Sikh scriptures.
Police investigating the incident
Community members are now waiting for investigators to establish what led to the confrontation and the stabbing.
“The police will help determine that, everybody is anxious to figure out what happened and why it happened.”
Harman Kandola, a spokesperson for the World Sikh Organisation of Canada, said the incident had overshadowed what was expected to be a wedding celebration.
“It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, yet here we are having to talk about two people who were seriously injured,” Kandola said.
Sikh organisation urges safety measures
The Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund described the violence inside a place of worship as deeply troubling and expressed support for the victims and Edmonton’s Sikh community.
The organisation urged gurdwaras in the United States to review emergency procedures, keep exits accessible and maintain communication with local law enforcement.
It also advised community members to report suspicious activity and share only verified information while the investigation continues.
What happens next
Police are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and determine the motive, if any, behind the incident. Further details are expected as police continue their inquiry.
