3 men injured after man with knife walks into Montreal-area mosque
24-year-old man has been arrested, police say motive behind incident is unknown
A 24-year-old man has been arrested following an altercation at a Montreal-area mosque that left three people injured on Friday afternoon.
Police in Chteauguay, Que., say the man with a knife entered the Centre Culturel Musulman de Chteauguay, located on St-Jean Baptiste Boulevard, when an altercation broke out with several individuals at around 1:40 p.m.
Police say it's not yet clear if the knife was used during the altercation.
Rachid Azmane, the centre's administrator, said he witnessed the situation unfold.
"There was a little bit of panic. Everyone was panicked, didn't know what was going. Were there injuries?Was anyone stabbed?"he saidwhile describing the incident's aftermath.
"But no, the situation was brought under control."
Azmanesays he didn't recognize the man when he entered the mosque. People inside the mosque noticed the man sittingdown before heproceeded tochange seats a few times, which struck Azmane as strange.
The latest information suggests the man was known to the community, said Chateauguay police spokesperson Marc-Olivier Chatelois Saturday morning.
After noticing more strangebehaviours, mosqueleaders decided to delay the prayer while a few men approached the suspectand brought him to the centre's basement to speak with him andfind out what was going on, said Azmane.
He didn't go downstairs. But he saidhe could see the interactionfrom where he was standing inside the mosque.
It was during that interactionthat the menwho approached the suspectrealized he was concealinga knife.
"They tried to take control of the knife.Afirst man got injured, then a second, then a third," saidAzmane.
Immediately after, hecalled police. He says one manwas injured because he grabbed the knife by its blade.
"The others [got injured] whilethey were trying to handle the man because he was a little agitated," he said.
According to Const. Nadia Grondin, the three men sustained minor injuries. One wastransported to the hospital.
All three victims are in their 50s. Azmanesays theywere worshippers and known to mosque administrators.
Police say the motive behind the incident remains unknown at this time.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on X that no one should feel afraid in their place of worship.
"While we wait for more information, my thoughts are with these individuals and the entire congregation who must be very shaken right now," Trudeau wrote on Friday evening.
Conservative LeaderPierre Poilievrealso posted on X, sayingCanada's places of faith should be where people feel safe. He said he and his wife, Anaida Poilievre, were thinking about the injured and wishing them a speedy recovery.
"My heart goes out to Chteauguay's Centre Culturel Musulman reeling from a stabbing earlier today," Poilievre wrote.
Police say the suspect is being questioned by investigators,and charges may be forthcoming. His court appearance would likely be Saturday.
With files from Radio-Canada and CBC's Shuyee Lee
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