WATCH: Winnipeg man charged after alleged knife attack on pastor mid-service

A Winnipeg man is facing multiple charges after allegedly attempting to stab a pastor during a Sunday evening service at Holy Ghost Parish in the city’s North End, according to Winnipeg Police Service (WPS).  

WPS officers responded to the Selkirk Avenue church around 6 p.m. CST after reports of an armed suspect. 

Police stated the man approached the 38-year-old pastor at the altar while holding a knife. 

“As the suspect approached the pastor, luckily he was able to see this, whether he saw he had a knife or his sixth sense kicked in, and he was able to avoid getting assaulted by the suspect,” said Constable Stephen Spencer, Public Information Officer with the WPS.

“So the pastor actually ended up running off the stage.”

According to police, the suspect stabbed the knife into the altar before sitting down. 

An off-duty RCMP officer and congregants restrained him until police arrived.  

Investigators found no prior link between the pastor and suspect, calling the incident “random.” 

The pastor reported no memory of encountering the man before.  

“I’ve been on 23 years, and this is the first I’ve seen of this type of incident in a church, so it’s quite different, for sure, and quite alarming,” said Spencer.

The Archdiocese of Winnipeg confirmed awareness of the incident, expressing gratitude for the lack of injuries. 

The suspect remains in custody pending court proceedings.  

No motive has been identified, and the WPS continues to investigate.