Man Arrested After Altercation at Montreal-Area Mosque Leaves Three Injured
The incident, which occurred around 1:40 p.m., left three people injured.
Police reported that the man, armed with a knife, entered the mosque located on St-Jean Baptiste Boulevard. An altercation ensued with several individuals, though it remains unclear if the knife was used during the incident, CBC News reported on Friday.
Rachid Azmane, the mosque's administrator, witnessed the situation. "There was a little bit of panic. Everyone was panicked, didn't know what was going on. Were there injuries? Was anyone stabbed?" he said, describing the aftermath. "But no, the situation was brought under control."
Azmane noted that the man, who was not recognized by mosque attendees, exhibited strange behavior by changing seats multiple times. This prompted mosque leaders to delay the prayer and approach the suspect, leading him to the basement to understand his intentions.
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During this interaction, the men realized the suspect was concealing a knife. "They tried to take control of the knife. A first man got injured, then a second, then a third," Azmane recounted. He immediately called the police, noting that one man was injured by grabbing the knife by its blade, while the others were hurt while trying to handle the agitated suspect.
Const. Nadia Grondin confirmed that the three injured men, all in their 50s, sustained minor injuries, with one transported to the hospital. Azmane mentioned that the injured individuals were worshippers known to the mosque administrators.
The motive behind the incident remains unknown, and the suspect is currently being questioned by investigators. Charges may be forthcoming, with a court appearance likely on Saturday.
Source: Agencies
