Three men were injured after a knife-wielding man entered a mosque in Châteauguay, Montérégie, on Friday.
According to the Châteauguay Police Department, the three men, all in their fifties, suffered only minor injuries. Only one of them was transported to hospital.
The suspect burst into the Muslim Cultural Centre of Châteauguay in the afternoon.
“At around 1:40 p.m., a call was made to 911 for a man who had entered the Muslim Cultural Centre of Châteauguay,” said Marc-Olivier Chatelois, spokesperson for the Châteauguay Police Department.
A fight then broke out, but police cannot confirm at this time whether the three men were injured by the knife. They also declined to comment on possible motives.
The 24-year-old suspect was taken to the police station for questioning by investigators. Witnesses will also be interviewed by the police.
It is not yet known whether he resides in the area.
An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the event.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was troubled. “As we wait for more news, my thoughts are with them and the entire congregation, which must be shaken,” he said on the social network X. “No one should be afraid.”
For her part, Canada’s special representative for combating Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby, described the news as “very distressing.”
“Our thoughts are with the victims, hoping that the injuries suffered are not serious and that their recovery will not be difficult,” she said on X.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims said it was very concerned about the incident.
“However, we do not have information at this time that would allow us to suggest the motivation for the incident, and we encourage our community not to speculate as the investigation continues,” the organization said on social media.