On Aug. 21, 2026, at approximately 5:00 a.m., two men were attacked at Edmonton’s Nanaksar Gurdwara (Sikh temple) by a 27-year-old man who stabbed them with a screwdriver. The men, ages 51 and 75, were hospitalized, but did not sustain any fatal injuries and are recuperating.
Morning prayers were interrupted by the stabbing and the temple was temporarily closed Friday morning due to the police investigation. Edmonton’s police have not provided a possible motive for the attack, but Chief Warren Driechel stated that police are working to figure out whether it was motivated by hate as the Edmonton Police Services’ (EPS) Hate Crimes unit is currently in charge of the investigation.
Prior to entering the temple, the suspect was reported to the police as he was walking in traffic on a highway close to the Sikh temple.
City News reported that before the police arrived at the temple, the man was “held down by worshippers.”
The unnamed attacker has a known record of being violent which spans over a decade, going back to 2015. According to an article by City News, reports show that he was released from prison one day before the attack at Nanaksar.
“The suspect was released from a federal prison on Thursday — where he was serving a sentence for aggravated assault and assaulting a peace officer — and did not report to a halfway house.”
This attack is not an isolated incident in Alberta. Global News reported that two Sikh temples in Calgary received threatening phone calls about demolishing the sacred sites, one week prior to the attack in Edmonton.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada’s (WSO) President, Danish Singh, has commented on the rise of anti-Sikh hate in Canada.
“We are asking gurdwaras across Canada to review and strengthen their security procedures and to remain vigilant. At the same time, we will not allow fear to dictate how Sikhs live in Canada.”
According to the Edmonton Journal, a survey conducted by the WSO recorded that 80 per cent of its respondents have noticed an increase in anti-Sikh hatred over the last five years.
Alberta’s Premier, Danielle Smith, condemned the violence:
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities and places of worship, and we will continue to defend that right… Today’s attack once again affirms why the federal government must take bail and parole reform seriously.”
Edmonton’s Mayor, Andrew Knack, commented on the effects of the violence on the city.
“Incidents like this pose a direct threat to all Edmontonians, negatively impacting residents and the character of our city.”
He added that “hate and prejudice and racism have no place in our city.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement through posting on social media.
“The attack at the Nanaksar Gurdwara in Edmonton this morning is appalling. My thoughts are with the two people who were injured and the wider community that is shaken by this terrible event.
“No one should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship. I want to thank the Edmonton Police Service for their swift response.”
The Edmonton Journal reported that the suspect is still in custody, but will remain unnamed due to the fact that charges have not yet been laid.
