Two stabbed at Edmonton Sikh temple; suspect released from jail day prior

Two men were stabbed at the Nanaksar Sikh Temple in northeast Edmonton early Friday, August 21, in an attack that also reportedly targeted the gurdwara's central scripture.

Edmonton police responded at 5:08 a.m. after an intruder entered the temple and attacked worshippers inside. The victims, aged 71 and 75, were treated at the scene with non-life-threatening injuries and taken to hospital. The World Sikh Organization reported that the central Sikh holy scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, was also attacked during the incident.

A 27-year-old man was arrested at the scene. Police said the suspect was known to police with a "significant" and lengthy criminal history including violent offences. He had been released from prison Thursday after serving time for aggravated assault but failed to report to a halfway house as required.

Police are still investigating how the suspect reached the temple, located in a relatively isolated part of northeast Edmonton. The EPS Hate Crimes Unit has been consulted as investigators determine whether the attack was motivated by hate.

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack said he was "deeply horrified" by the attack and stated it cannot be viewed as an isolated incident "particularly amid a rise in anti-Sikh hate in Alberta." World Sikh Organization president Danish Singh said: "We have been warning for quite some time that anti-Sikh hate is rising in Canada and that, if it is allowed to continue unchecked, hateful rhetoric can translate into threats and actual violence." The gurdwara has been closed to the public during the investigation.