Police have laid charges against a 27-year-old man after two worshippers were stabbed last month at a Sikh temple on the northeastern outskirts of Edmonton.
The attack on Friday, Aug. 21 happened during early morning prayers at the Nanaksar gurdwara — a large, white, ornate Sikh temple along Manning Drive between Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan.
Police responded just after 5 a.m. to the stabbings at the gurdwara near 14 Street and Horsehill Road, where officers arrested a man.
Police said the man had been let out of prison elsewhere in Alberta the day prior.
Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple staff said both victims, men ages 75 and 51, would recover.
Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the attack.
Police said the accused had been in prison for aggravated assault and assault on a peace officer, and has a history of violence.
Court documents show the accused was sentenced to 28 months behind bars for aggravated assault in December 2024, and a few days later in a different court case was sentenced to six months for assaulting a peace officer.
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On the day of the attack, Edmonton Police Service Chief Warren Driechel said the accused was released after serving about 20 months of a 31-month sentence. He was supposed to report to a halfway house in Edmonton, but did not.
While charges were announced Thursday, police said the matter of if the it was a terror attack or hate crime continues to be investigated.
“This investigation is complex and involves numerous investigative steps that we are still diligently working to complete,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Stewart with the EPS Investigations Branch.
Police said the EPS Investigative Response Team and the Hate Crimes Unit continue its ongoing assessment of any evidence relevant to the application of hate-related criminal provisions.
“We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and patience and on behalf of the Gurdwara, kindly ask the media and public to give their community space and privacy at this time.”
Austin Sim-Pelletier, 27, is charged with two counts of assault causing bodily harm, possession of a weapon and mischief.
Sim-Pelletier is next set to appear at the Edmonton law courts on Sept. 18.
With files from Daniela Germano, The Canadian Press
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