Edmonton gurdwara stabbing: Priest, volunteer hurt as hate angle probed

Toronto,UPDATED: Aug 22, 2026 10:22 IST

Two men, including a priest, were injured after a 27-year-old man allegedly stabbed them with a screwdriver inside a gurdwara in Canada's Edmonton on Friday morning, with police investigating whether the attack was hate-motivated. The incident took place at the Nanaksar Sikh Gurdwara, where the suspect was held by witnesses until officers arrived.

The two injured men, aged 75 and 51, were taken to hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. The suspect was also injured and taken to hospital. Political leaders and community representatives condemned the violence, while police said charges against the man were pending.

The Edmonton Police Service said the incident happened at around 5 am local time at the gurdwara in northeast Edmonton. According to police, the suspect entered the gurdwara and tried to access the prayer area before staff members confronted him. The confrontation then escalated and the two men were stabbed.

Police said witnesses stepped in and detained the suspect until officers arrived and arrested him. The EPS Investigative Response Team has taken over the case and is working with the Hate Crimes Unit to determine whether the attack was motivated by hate.

Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the Sikh community. In a post on X, he said, "The attack at the Nanaksar Gurdwara in Edmonton this morning is appalling. My thoughts are with the two people who were injured and the wider community that is shaken by this terrible event." He added, "No one should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship. I want to thank the Edmonton Police Service for their swift response."

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also condemned the attack. She said, "Everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities and places of worship, and we will continue to defend that right," and added that the incident showed the need for the federal government to take bail and parole reform seriously. Naheed Nenshi, leader of Alberta's official opposition, described the violence at the temple as shocking and said crimes in places of worship were particularly disturbing and had left members of the community shaken.

Police said the suspect had been seen walking in traffic on Highway 15 shortly before the stabbing. They said he was known to police and had an extensive history of violent attacks dating back to 2015. Officials said he had been released from a federal prison in Alberta a day before the attack and had failed to report to his designated halfway house in Edmonton, a transitional residential facility meant to help people reintegrate into society.

Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple vice-president Zora Grewal identified the injured men as a temple priest and a longtime volunteer. Grewal said the suspect allegedly used a screwdriver and stabbed the priest repeatedly before attacking the elderly volunteer. He added that no Sikh scripture was damaged in the incident. EPS Chief Warren Driechel said the attack had not led to more serious injuries or deaths, but acknowledged the trauma caused to the victims and the Sikh community. "This level of violence has no place in our city," he said, adding that police were taking the incident and the safety of Edmonton's Sikh community seriously.

World Sikh Organisation of Canada president Danish Singh said, "We are asking gurdwaras across Canada to review and strengthen their security procedures and to remain vigilant." The stabbing came days after two Sikh temples in Alberta received threatening phone calls from the same number on August 15. Police said they were working closely with the temples as the investigation continued, and added that there was no indication of an active threat to the wider community. Overall, the case remains under investigation, with police examining whether hate was a motive and preparing charges against the suspect.

With PTI Inputs

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