EDMONTON — A 27-year-old man has been charged in connection with a stabbing at the Nanaksar Sikh Gurdwara last month. On Sept. 4, Austin Sim-Pelletier was charged with two counts of assault causing bodily harm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and mischief. The Edmonton Police Service hate crimes unit is still investigating the incident with the ongoing assessment of any evidence related to the application of hate-related criminal provisions. Police were called to the gurdwara at 4:49 a.m. on Aug. 21 after receiving reports of a stabbing. It was reported that a man entered the gurdwara during morning prayers and was confronted by staff. The confrontation escalated and two people were stabbed. Witnesses detained the assailant and he was arrested at 5:10 a.m. when police arrived. A 75-year-old man and a 51-year-old man were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. “This investigation is complex and involves numerous investigative steps that we are still diligently working to complete,” Staff Sgt. Eric Stewart said in a news release. “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.” On the day of the incident, police confirmed that Sim-Pelletier had been released from a federal institution somewhere in Alberta the day before the stabbings and had failed to report to his designated halfway house. Sim-Pelletier is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 18.
