Edmonton gurdwara attack heightens concerns over anti-Sikh hate in Canada

By Asia Samachar  | Canada |

Canada-based World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) has urged authorities to confront what it describes as rising anti-Sikh hate after two men were stabbed at Nanaksar Gurdwara in Edmonton.

Edmonton Police Service (EPS) said a 27-year-old man entered the gurdwara at about 5am on Friday and tried to access the prayer area before being confronted by staff. The confrontation escalated and two men, aged 75 and 51, were stabbed. Witnesses restrained the suspect until officers arrived.

Both victims were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the suspect, who allegedly used a screwdriver, had been released from a federal institution the previous day after serving a sentence for aggravated assault and assaulting a peace officer, and had failed to report to a designated halfway house. The EPS Hate Crimes Unit is assisting investigators to determine whether the attack was hate-motivated.

WSO initially said preliminary reports indicated that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji had also been attacked. However, temple officials later told CBC News that no sacred texts were damaged.

Global News quoted temple representative Harmeek Sehgal as saying of the injured men: “The last I heard, they both were talking.”

In a statement, WSO president Danish Singh said the Edmonton attack came amid a troubling series of incidents affecting Sikhs in Alberta, including threatening calls to two Calgary gurdwaras a day earlier and an alleged assault on Sikh truck driver Talwinder Singh Atwal at an Edmonton Walmart earlier this month.

Calgary police have confirmed they are investigating threats to two northeast gurdwaras, including Dashmesh Culture Centre, where a caller allegedly threatened to demolish the premises.

Danish said governments and police must take stronger action to protect Sikh places of worship and investigate hate-motivated incidents.

WSO also urged gurdwaras across Canada to review security procedures while insisting that fear should not dictate how Sikhs live in the country.

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