A man in his 60s was seriously injured after being stabbed on Jan. 9 at the courthouse in Longueuil, southeast of Montreal.
A 43-year-old suspect was arrested on the scene, and police said he could face an attempted murder charge.
Patrick Davis, a lawyer who witnessed the aftermath of the attack, said he was alerted to the situation when he heard someone yelling on the second floor.
“At that point I saw the court interpreter I know covered in blood, with a lot of blood, especially on his face,” Mr. Davis said in a phone interview. He said the victim disappeared into a bathroom, where he was quickly helped by special constables.
He said a different individual approached him moments later, acting strangely and saying someone had a gun.
“He was turning to look behind him, as if he was scared and fleeing a situation,” said Mr. Davis. However, Mr. Davis reported the man—who turned out to be the suspect—after seeing him turn around in an apparent attempt to avoid the courthouse constables. He said he also saw a knife on the floor after the attack.
Longueuil police said they were called to the courthouse at about noon to respond to an armed attack inside the building.
They said the victim was taken to hospital, where he was in serious condition as of Jan. 9. Police spokeswoman Mélanie Mercille told reporters that the victim was stabbed in the upper body.
Ms. Mercille originally said the suspect was known to police and knew the victim, but later said that wasn’t the case. She said an investigation will determine what happened and why. The second floor of the courthouse was closed on the afternoon of Jan. 9 while police investigated.
Mr. Davis said the victim was well known as a court interpreter, and that he had exchanged friendly greetings with him that morning.
He said that while the atmosphere at the courthouse wasn’t panicked after the stabbing, many people were questioning the lack of security in Longueuil and at most Quebec courthouses.
Unlike in Montreal, where visitors have to pass through airport-style security, there is no controlled entry in Longueuil, and nothing to stop people from walking in with weapons or dangerous materials, Mr. Davis said. “Anyone could come in armed and commit a mass crime,” he said.
