An altercation at the Centre Culturel Musulman de Châteauguay left three men in their 50s with minor injuries after a suspect, armed with a knife, entered the mosque. One of the men was taken to the hospital for treatment.
According to the centre’s administrator, Rachid Azmane, the injured individuals were regular worshippers at the mosque.
Châteauguay police reported that the man entered the mosque, located on St-Jean-Baptiste Boulevard, around 1:40 p.m. on Friday, carrying a knife. An altercation ensued shortly after.
Azmane, who witnessed the incident, said the man initially seemed suspicious as he changed seats multiple times after entering the mosque. The unusual behavior prompted mosque leaders to pause the prayer and ask a few individuals to approach the suspect and take him to the basement to better understand the situation.
Although Azmane did not go downstairs, he observed the interaction from where he stood inside the mosque. During the conversation, the men realized the suspect had concealed a knife.
“They tried to disarm him. One man was injured, then another, and finally a third,” said Azmane.
The incident gained the attention of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, both of whom expressed on X that everyone should feel safe in their places of worship.
Châteauguay police confirmed that the suspect was well aware to the community, though the motive behind the incident remains unclear.
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