The suspect in a stabbing at an Edmonton gurdwara was released from a federal prison just hours before the attack.
The Edmonton Police Service confirmed that there was a stabbing at Nanaksar Sikh Temple on Friday.
Emergency crews responded to the temple at 14 Street and Horsehill Road at 5:08 a.m.
A man was arrested at the scene, and two men were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
At a news conference on Friday, EPS said before the stabbing they received reports of a man walking on Horsehill Road.
“It was reported that a male entered the gurdwara and attempted to access the prayer area when he was confronted by staff,” Acting Insp. Eric Stewart told reporters. “This confrontation then escalated, and two male patrons of the gurdwara were stabbed.”
Stewart said the victims were 51-years-old and 75-years-old.
“Quick acting witnesses intervened and detained the man, and our northeast branch officers were able to take him into custody moments after 5:10 a.m.,” he said, adding the man was carrying a screwdriver at the time of his arrest.
The two victims and the suspect were taken to hospital.
Charges are now pending against a 27-year-old man.
His name has not been released because charges have not yet been laid.
The hate crimes unit has been engaged, and police are working to determine if the incident was hate motivated.
Police say the suspect is known to them, and has a history of violent offences dating back to 2015.
“We’ve learned that he was released from a federal institution yesterday, Aug. 20, 2026, where he had been serving a sentence for aggravated assault and assaulting a peace officer, and he failed to report to his designated Edmonton halfway house,” Stewart said. “Additional investigation into his motivations and how he came to be near the gurdwara remains underway.”
Police did not say which institution he was released from, but said it was a federal penitentiary in Alberta.
Concern about hate crimes
Mayor Andrew Knack also spoke at the news conference and expressed his solidarity with the Sikh community.
“This is not an isolated incident, especially given the rise of anti-Sikh hate in Alberta. Our community and city is built on the values of diversity and inclusion, and we take pride in being a welcoming community that celebrates cultural diversity, with people of all faiths and backgrounds living in Edmonton,” he said.
“I have spoken with the leadership at the gurdwara this morning after learning of this horrific incident, and I’ll continue to stay in close contact with them and the broader Sikh community. The safety and well-being of Edmontonians is our top priority, and everyone here today is committed to ensuring that incidents like this do not continue.”
A Sikh place of worship in Calgary says it received threatening phone calls last weekend, leading Mayor Jeromy Farkas to condemn the threats.
EPS Chief Warren Driechel told reporters at the news conference that EPS is investigating if Friday’s incident in Edmonton is related, and has been in touch with other leaders from across various communities.
Driechel was also asked about a recent EPS post asking people to report hate that drew ire from the province.
Mike Ellis, Alberta’s minister of public safety and emergency services responded to the post, saying his UCP government would be in touch with municipal police services to “ensure Albertans’ policing priorities continue to be cracking down on violent crime, theft, illegal drugs and vandalism,” while upholding “everyone’s right to free speech … regardless of an individual’s religious or political beliefs.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in turn, called free speech a “foundational Alberta value.”
“I won’t speak about the conflict. I can tell you that that post for us was a post part of a strategy that we’ve had for two years about online hate and hate crimes,” Driechel said.
“I would like to just reiterate, we want people to report hate crimes right when they feel fearful. We don’t know oftentimes if it’s a crime. We want to hear about it, and then we do our investigation to determine if it’s a crime.”
Community reaction
Harman Kandola, the regional president of the World Sikh Organization, tells CTV News Edmonton the stabbing happened during morning prayers.
“He made an attempt to go and interfere with those morning prayers, and when they tried to subdue him, he assaulted several members of the congregation, two of whom were hospitalized,” he said.
Kandola says gurdwaras are open to anyone, so the man was able to walk inside without raising red flags.
“Everybody’s welcome here, so you won’t see things like bars being put up or metal detectors coming in. None of that’s going to happen,” he said. “What we want to make sure is that once the police do the investigation, we’ll find out if this was an isolated incident.”
Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi called the stabbings unsettling.
“This comes as threats are being made toward cultural and religious centres in Calgary, and crime and public disorder have increased to the point where people no longer feel safe,” he wrote in a statement.
“We have confidence that police will investigate fully, including determining if these are hate crimes. We are supporting the whole community right now, and our thoughts are for a quick recovery for those hurt and support for their loved ones.”
Local MPs also condemned the attack.
“My heart is with Edmonton’s Sikh community following the horrific attack at Nanaksar Gurdwara this morning. A place of worship should be a place of safety, community and peace. No one should have to fear violence simply for practising their faith,” Edmonton-Strathcona MP Heather McPherson wrote.
“We must take the rise in anti-Sikh hate seriously. Hate has no place in Edmonton or anywhere in Canada. We need a full investigation, accountability for those responsible, and stronger action to protect communities and places of worship.”
“I’m deeply disturbed at the outrageous violent attack this morning at the Edmonton Nanaksar Gurdwara desecrating Guru Granth Sahib Ji and stabbing 2 victims. My prayers are with everyone affected by this senseless act of violence,” Edmonton-Gateway MP Tim Uppal wrote.
“The rise of anti-Sikh hate, from online hatred to violent attacks, cannot be ignored. This cannot be our community, our province, our country. There is no place for this violence and hate in our communities. We must all come together to support our Edmonton Sikh community at this time.”
