A Winnipeg priest narrowly escaped an attempted stabbing during Sunday mass, with the entire incident captured on camera. Danton Unger reports.
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No one hurt during knife attack on pastor at Winnipeg church, police say
A 50-year-old man was arrested following the incident on Sunday evening
A man has been charged after police say he tried to attack a pastor with a knife during a service at a Winnipeg church Sunday evening.
The incident happened at Holy Ghost Parish on Selkirk Avenue around 6 p.m. Sunday.
Video submitted to CBC News shows a man walking up the altar, before picking up his pace to approach the pastor. The man also appears to try and grab the pastor, who runs away.
Police said in a news release Monday the 38-year-old pastor was able to escape unharmed, and that the man drove a knife into the altar before sitting down in a chair further back.
« It’s a very rare incident and I think everybody involved is quite shaken up as a result, » Winnipeg police spokesperson Const. Stephen Spencer said.
« Nobody expects that when they go to church on Sunday or any day of the week, that somebody’s going to be there with a weapon and try and attack somebody in the church. »
Police said in their release Monday nobody was physically injured during the incident.
They also said an off-duty RCMP officer detained the man with the help of other people attending the Selkirk Avenue church service until officers arrived around 6 p.m.
A 50-year-old man from Winnipeg has been charged with counts linked to use of a weapon and disturbing a meeting, police said.
He was detained in custody. Spencer said the man is known to police from past incidents.
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Un prêtre poignardé en pleine messe à l’oratoire Saint-Joseph (22 mars 2019)
