Toronto: Two people, including a granthi and a sewadar, were injured after a man allegedly stabbed them at a gurdwara in Edmonton, Alberta, in the early hours of Friday. Police arrested the suspect at the scene and are now investigating whether the attack was hate motivated.

According to the Edmonton Police Service, the incident took place just before 5 am when the suspect entered the gurdwara and tried to reach the prayer area. He was confronted by staff, after which the situation escalated and two men were stabbed. Witnesses stepped in and restrained the attacker until police arrived around 5:10 am and took him into custody.

The victims, aged 75 and 51, were taken to hospital with injuries that officials said were not life threatening. The gurdwara’s president said the two injured men were a priest and a volunteer, and described the attack as shocking, noting that the place of worship had otherwise remained peaceful.

Police said the suspect was using a screwdriver during the incident. Canadian media reports said he had been released from federal prison just a day earlier after serving time for aggravated assault and assaulting a peace officer. Officers had reportedly been looking for him earlier as he was believed to have threatened drivers on a highway.

The Edmonton Police Service’s investigative team is working with its hate crimes unit to determine whether the attack was driven by bias. Charges were pending at the time of reporting.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the attack as appalling and said no one should feel unsafe in a place of worship. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also expressed solidarity with the Sikh community and said violent repeat offenders must face strict legal action.

The incident has added to concern within Canada’s Sikh community, which has recently faced rising tensions amid increasing anti immigrant sentiment.