Two injured in stabbing attack at Canada Sikh temple

A man has been arrested after injuring two people in an early morning stabbing attack at a Sikh temple in Edmonton, Canada, police said.

Officials said the attack inside the sprawling Nanaksar Gurdwara unfolded around 05:00 local time (12:00 BST) on Friday morning. Police did not identify the suspect, nor did they specify a motive.

The attack comes after police confirmed last week that they were investigating threatening calls made to two Sikh gurdwaras in Calgary, two hours south of where Friday's attack took place.

The World Sikh Organization, based in Canada, has said the attack is deeply troubling and has occurred against the backdrop of rising anti-Sikh hate across the country.

Police first received reports around 04:49 local time of a man walking in traffic on a highway, and about 15 minutes later, they got calls about a stabbing inside the temple, the Edmonton Police Service said.

The reports said a man had entered the Gurdwara and tried accessing the prayer area when he was confronted by staff, police said.

"This confrontation then escalated, and two male patrons of the Gurdwara were stabbed. Thankfully, quick-acting witnesses intervened and detained the man," Acting Inspector Eric Stewart said at a press conference Friday.

The two victims, a 75-year-old man and 51-year-old man, were not seriously injured and are in stable condition, police said. Police described them as "worshippers" and did not provide further details.