Muhammad Amanullah | August 22, 2026
The True Post (Web News) — Two people were injured after a man allegedly attacked worshippers at a Sikh gurdwara in Edmonton during morning prayers.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 5 a.m. Friday at the Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple in northeast Edmonton. Police said a man armed with a screwdriver entered the gurdwara during morning worship.
A 27-year-old man has been taken into custody in connection with the attack. Police have not yet determined the motive, while the Edmonton Police Service’s Hate Crimes Unit is also involved in the investigation.
Two People Injured
Acting Inspector Eric Stewart of the Edmonton Police Service said police had received a report shortly before arriving at the gurdwara that a man was walking among traffic on a roadway.
Police said the 27-year-old suspect entered the gurdwara and attempted to go into the prayer room. He then allegedly attacked two people who were inside.
People at the gurdwara intervened and managed to restrain the suspect before police arrived.
The two injured victims are reported to be 75 and 51 years old.
Both were taken to hospital for treatment of injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Police said the suspect was also injured during the incident and was taken to hospital.
Suspect Had Previous Criminal Record
Police said the man was already known to law enforcement and had a significant history involving violence.
Eric Stewart said the suspect had been released from federal custody just one day before the attack. He had been serving a sentence for aggravated assault and assaulting a police officer.
Following his release, he was required to report to a designated halfway house in Edmonton. Police said he did not report there.
Investigators are now examining how the man ended up in the area of the gurdwara and why he was not at the residence where he was required to report.
Police have not released the suspect’s name because formal charges have not yet been laid. Investigators said charges could be filed once the investigation progresses.
Priest and Longtime Volunteer Among the Injured
Zora Grewal, vice-president of the Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple, said several people were inside the gurdwara when the attack occurred and morning prayers were underway.
According to Grewal, the two injured people were not simply worshippers. One was a priest and the other was an elderly man who had volunteered at the gurdwara for many years.
Grewal said people inside the gurdwara attempted to remove the armed man from the building. During the struggle, the suspect allegedly resisted and struck the priest several times with the screwdriver before also attacking the elderly volunteer.
Grewal said both injured men are expected to recover.
Sacred Religious Text Was Not Damaged
Initial reports raised concerns that the Sikh community’s sacred religious scripture may have been damaged during the attack.
However, gurdwara officials later clarified that no sacred religious text was damaged.
Grewal said he was deeply shocked that the alleged attacker had been released from federal custody only one day before the incident. He said the system for releasing people who could pose a danger to the public needs to be reviewed.
He also emphasized that the gurdwara’s doors remain open to the public and that it is intended to be a place of peace, worship and spiritual comfort.
The gurdwara’s administration plans to hold a meeting over the weekend to discuss additional security measures and other steps that could be taken in response to the incident.
Sikh Community Raises Security Concerns
World Sikh Organization of Canada President Danish Singh expressed deep concern over the attack, particularly amid recent reports of incidents targeting the Sikh community in Canada.
He called on gurdwaras across the country to review their security arrangements, strengthen protective measures and remain alert to suspicious activity.
Singh said the Sikh community would not allow fear to dominate its lives.
Recent Threats Against Sikh Places of Worship in Alberta
The Edmonton attack comes as Sikh religious institutions in Alberta have also faced threats in recent days.
According to Calgary police, two Sikh temples in northeast Calgary received concerning threatening phone calls from the same phone number on August 15.
Police remain in contact with both gurdwaras and have said the community is not currently believed to face an immediate threat.
The Nanaksar Gurdwara in Edmonton was built approximately 30 years ago. Following Friday morning’s attack, the gurdwara was temporarily closed to the public to allow police to conduct their investigation.
Government Leaders Express Concern
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith condemned recent incidents involving the Sikh community and said everyone has the right to feel safe in their community and place of worship.
Smith also called on the federal government to take bail and parole reforms seriously, arguing that the system for releasing dangerous offenders needs to be made more effective.
Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed sympathy for the injured victims and praised Edmonton police for their quick response.
He said no one should feel unsafe in their place of worship.
Alberta Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi described the incident as disturbing and deeply concerning, saying violence inside a place of worship affects the entire community.
Nenshi said police should conduct a full investigation and determine whether the attack qualifies as a hate-motivated crime.
Investigation Continues
Police have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that the motive behind the attack has not yet been established.
The Edmonton Police Service’s Hate Crimes Unit is reviewing the incident, but police have not currently classified the attack as a hate crime.
The attack, along with recent threats against Sikh places of worship, has renewed concerns about the safety of Canada’s Sikh community and security at religious institutions.
The ongoing investigation is expected to determine what motivated the Edmonton gurdwara attack and what charges, if any, will ultimately be brought against the suspect.
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