Canada Gurdwara Attack: 2 Injured in Stabbing After Screwdriver-Wielding Man Forces Way Into Edmonton Temple
Two men were injured during early morning prayers on Friday, August 21, after a man armed with a screwdriver forced his way into the Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple in northeast Edmonton.
Two men were injured during early morning prayers on Friday, August 21, after a man armed with a screwdriver forced his way into the Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple in northeast Edmonton. According to the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), the incident occurred around 5:00 a.m. when a 27-year-old intruder entered the temple at 14 Street and Horsehill Road and attempted to force his way into the main prayer hall. When temple staff and worshippers intervened to stop him, the situation escalated into a violent physical confrontation.
During the struggle, two temple patrons—aged 51 and 75—were stabbed with a screwdriver. Quick-acting witnesses on the scene managed to restrain the suspect until officers arrived shortly after 5:10 a.m. Emergency crews transported both victims to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police confirmed that both men are expected to recover. The suspect was also treated for injuries sustained while being detained by bystanders. Nancy Grewal Dies: Punjabi-Origin Singer-Influencer Stabbed to Death in Canada Over Anti-Khalistan Stance (See Family Statement).
Investigators revealed that the suspect has a extensive criminal history of violent offenses dating back to 2015. He had been released from a federal penitentiary in Alberta just a day prior, where he was serving a sentence for aggravated assault and assaulting a police officer. Authorities noted that he had failed to report to his assigned Edmonton halfway house following his release. Police received reports of a man walking dangerously in traffic along nearby Highway 15 shortly before the disturbance at the gurdwara was reported. While temple officials initially feared sacred Sikh scriptures were targeted, officials later confirmed that no religious texts were damaged. Vidhi Megha Death: Father of Indian Student Killed in Niagara Seeks Return of Daughter’s Body for Final Rites in India.
The EPS Investigative Response Team and the Hate Crimes Unit are leading the investigation to determine if the attack was hate-motivated. Charges remain pending against the suspect, whose identity has not yet been formally released. The attack has sparked widespread concern among community leaders and elected officials. Political leaders and advocacy groups, including the World Sikh Organization of Canada, have called for increased protection for places of worship and stricter controls regarding the release of repeat offenders into the community.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2026 07:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
