Muslim women violently attacked NW of Edmonton, Mounties looking for hate crime suspect

ST. ALBERT, Alta – Police are searching for a man wanted in a horrific hate crime against two Muslim women northwest of Edmonton.

St. Albert RCMP says the two women were walking along a pathway Wednesday afternoon when a man wearing a mask started yelling at them.

The man then grabbed one of the women by her hijab and pushed her to the ground, knocking her unconscious.

An extremely disturbing attack against 2 women, at least one wearing a wearing Hijab, in St. Albert (on the Alderwood park pathway).

They had a knife pulled on them, one knocked unconscious, held down with a knife, threatened with racial slurs. #StAlbert #YEG #YEGCRIME pic.twitter.com/wpUrnkMHiQ

— Carly Robinson (@CarlyDRobinson) June 24, 2021

He then pulled out a knife, knocked the second woman to the ground, and held her down with the knife against her throat.

Police say the man continued to threaten the women with racial slurs before he ran off.

One of the women was taken to hospital by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries, while the second had minor injuries.

“Our Victim’s Services Unit is working with them and giving them support and providing support in the community,” said Cst. MJ Burroughs, Community Policing and School Resource Officer with St. Albert RCMP.

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson speaks out against another hate-motivated attack in the region against a Muslim resident.

Adds the city supports calls to strenghten hate laws in Canada. #yeg #yyc #cdnpoli #ableg pic.twitter.com/5kP69T9KtP

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) June 24, 2021

Mounties are asking for your help in identifying the suspect, who is believed to be a six-foot white man with an average build and broad shoulders.

“Hopefully we will be able to provide a composite sketch in the next day or two.”

He’s about 50 years old with short, light-coloured hair and light eyes.

He was wearing dark jeans, a navy shirt, and a red and white bandana with graffiti lettering on it.

“Normally, in St. Albert, we don’t see this type of crime very often so obviously people need to be vigilant. We are taken back by it,” said Cst. Burroughs. “Moving forward, walk with friends, have the support there, don’t be alone.”

If you have any information on this man you can call police.

“At this time we don’t believe there is any video surveillance but that’s why we always reach out to the public for assistance with many different doorbell type cameras and dash cams and things. So if anybody suspects they have anything prevalent to the investigation we would ask them to contact us,” added Cst. Burroughs.

With files from Carly Robinson