B.C.’s Sikh community on edge after Edmonton attack, but urge people not to panic

B.C.’s Sikh community is on edge after a violent attack and stabbing at a temple in Edmonton .

Police said a man tried to access the prayer area of the Nanaksar gurdwara when he was confronted by staff.

Two patrons intervened and were stabbed during the confrontation; luckily, the victims suffered only non-life-threatening injuries.

There is no known threat to any B.C. gurdwaras, but Abbotsford police said they are taking precautions, with extra patrols around places of worship.

“A member of our senior management team is also connected with the executive at the various places in Abbotsford here, just to offer that reassurance piece,” Sgt. Paul Walker with the Abbotsford police said.

In the community, the focus is on staying vigilant without letting fear take over.

“I will say it again: don’t panic,” Baljinder Bains, Khalsa Diwan Society’s recording secretary, said.

“OK, don’t make a hasty decisions. There shouldn’t be no violence in any religious places, and it’s very sad to hear that.”

Vancouver police are taking a similar approach to Abbotsford’s police, with officers monitoring the situation and connecting with Vancouver’s Sikh community.

The World Sikh Organization said Friday’s attack comes as concerns about anti-Sikh hate continue to grow.

“We’ve been calling for proactive steps to address this for quite some time now, so laws on the ground should be re-evaluating their security protocols, and we think that police and government should take this seriously,” Balpreet Singh, with the World Sikh Organization, said.

Edmonton police say their hate crime unit is involved to determine if the attack was hate-motivated.

Police also said that the 27-year-old suspect arrested on Friday morning has a significant history of violent offences and was released from a federal institution on Thursday.