Montreal priest in stable condition after stabbing during mass at Canada’s biggest church
- Priest Claude Grou was slightly wounded in upper body
- A suspect, who was carrying a knife, has been arrested
A priest was stabbed during a live-streamed morning mass on Friday at Canada’s biggest church, Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, police said.
The suspect was arrested at the Roman Catholic basilica soon after the attack in front of 50 people and a television audience around 8.40am, while priest Claude Grou was taken to hospital.
Police said that Grou was “slightly wounded in the upper body” when, according to witnesses cited by authorities, “the suspect suddenly ran up to the priest and attacked him with a knife” while he was officiating the mass.
The suspect was due to be interrogated soon, while the scene has been cordoned off.
Church spokeswoman Celine Barbeau said Grou, the church’s rector, “was conscious when he left. We are hopeful he will pull through’.
Video of the attack rebroadcast by CTV showed the assailant – a tall man in jeans, a parka and a white baseball cap – chase the priest around the altar and stab him.