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Two Men Stabbed During Prayers at Edmonton Sikh Temple
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Canada /Crime & Justice

Two Men Stabbed During Prayers at Edmonton Sikh Temple

From Global News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Two men were stabbed during morning prayers at the Nanaksar Sikh temple in Edmonton.
  • The incident occurred when a man disrupted the prayers and was subdued by congregants.
  • The community is seeking answers about the motive behind the attack.

A morning prayer service at the Nanaksar Sikh gurdwara in northeast Edmonton was disrupted Friday by an attack that left two men stabbed and the community shaken. The incident occurred ahead of a wedding planned for later in the day.

He came in and caused a disruption, our morning prayers were interrupted and the guys who were doing the prayer noticed this guy. You know, doesnโ€™t look like heโ€™s a visitor.

โ€” Harmeek SehgalA representative from the Nanaksar gurdwara described the moment the assailant entered the temple.

According to temple leadership, a man entered the gurdwara during prayers and began causing a disturbance. When prayer leaders attempted to intervene, a confrontation ensued, during which two elderly men were stabbed. Both injured men were reportedly in stable condition and able to communicate.

The guy apparently wasnโ€™t listening to anything. So they (tried) to subdue the guy. The guy tried to push back.

โ€” Harmeek SehgalSehgal explained the confrontation that led to the stabbing.

Congregants were able to subdue the assailant before police arrived. While no damage was reported to the temple or its sacred scriptures, the attack cast a shadow over the planned wedding. The World Sikh Organization of Canada expressed shock, with members questioning whether the incident was a hate crime or an isolated event.

The guys were able to subdue him down, and the police was called at that time.

โ€” Harmeek SehgalSehgal recounted how the situation was handled before police arrived.

Temple representatives emphasized that the gurdwara is always open to visitors, raising concerns about how such an incident could occur within its walls. The community is now seeking clarity on the motive behind the attack.

The last I heard, they both were talking.

โ€” Harmeek SehgalSehgal provided an update on the condition of the two men who were stabbed.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Global News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.