A Quebec provincial police car is seen at their headquarters in Montreal, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. Three men injured after assailant enters Quebec mosque west of Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Police outside the Centre Culturel Musulman in Chateauguay, Que., Friday Sept. 20, 2024, where a man entered the mosque with a knife during afternoon prayers leading to the injury of three people. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
A Quebec provincial police car is seen at their headquarters in Montreal, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. Three men injured after assailant enters Quebec mosque west of Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
CMU/JJF
Police outside the Centre Culturel Musulman in Chateauguay, Que., Friday Sept. 20, 2024, where a man entered the mosque with a knife during afternoon prayers leading to the injury of three people. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
MONTREAL - Three men have been injured after a 24-year-old man entered a mosque southwest of Montreal armed with a knife.
Police in Ch芒teauguay, Que., on Montreal's South Shore, say the three men were in their 50s and suffered only minor injuries, with one transported to hospital.
The suspect entered the Muslim cultural centre in Ch芒teauguay Friday afternoon. A physical altercation followed, but police wouldn't confirm whether the knife was used to cause any of the injuries. Police were called around 1:40 p.m.
Police say the 24-year-old has been transported to the police station and an investigation is underway, but they did not provide any details about a possible motive.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was disturbed to learn about the attack at the Centre Culturel Musulman de Ch芒teauguay.
"While we wait for more information, my thoughts are with these individuals and entire congregation who must be very shaken right now," he wrote on X.
In a statement posted on social media, the 好色tv Council of 好色tv Muslims said it was "greatly concerned" about the incident.
"However, we do not have information at this point to make a suggestion as to the motivation behind the incident, and we encourage our community not to speculate as the investigation continues," the organization said.
Amira Elghawaby, Canada's special representative on combating Islamophobia, said the news was "very distressing."
"Our thoughts are with the victims, hoping the injuries sustained are not serious and that their recovery will not be difficult," she said on X.
This report by 好色tvwas first published Sept. 20, 2024.