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Investigators have found no prior connection between Olownia and the priest, nor a motive. The Archdiocese of Winnipeg confirmed the incident and expressed gratitude that no one was hurt. Olownia remains in custody.
According to Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) testimony — and visible in the video of the incident that has been widely shared online — the suspect, Pawel Olownia, approached and attempted to stab the parish’s 38-year-old pastor with a knife near the altar. The priest made a screaming sound as he ran away from the attack.
“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, to local media outlets.
Following the priest's escape, a WPS news release stated, “the suspect drove the knife into the altar before sitting in a chair at the back of the altar.”
An off-duty RCMP member worked with other people in the church to detain Olownia until the police arrived to take him into custody.
“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 shared a statement with The Catholic Register that it disseminated to local media on Feb. 10. It stated: “The Archdiocese of Winnipeg is aware of the attempted stabbing incident during the 6 p.m. Mass yesterday at Holy Ghost Parish in Winnipeg. The man has been taken into custody, and we await a judge’s ruling. We are grateful that no one was hurt.”
According to Winnipeg Free Press:
In a 2017 incident, the suspect, Olownia was charged with assaulting a police officer with a weapon, impaired driving and breach of probation.
His defence lawyer had sought a psychiatric assessment to determine whether he was fit to stand trial or should be found not criminally responsible due to mental disorder. Staff at an addictions rehabilitation centre where he was while out on bail and corrections officers in provincial jail both grew concerned that he was hallucinating and delusional.
A psychiatrist ultimately found him fit, but Crown prosecutor Marla Bettencourt told provincial court his addictions and mental-health issues played a role in the crimes, to which he pleaded guilty in July 2018.
Sources: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/02/11/accused-in-church-attack-has-history-of-addictions-mental-illness-attempted-suicide-by-cop
Global News and Catholic Register
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