Canadian priest stabbed in front of worshippers during morning mass

A man armed with a knife stabbed a priest in front of worshippers as he delivered mass at Canada's biggest church on Friday morning, police said.

Father Claude Grou suffered injuries during the attack, which came as he held a service at Montreal's St Joseph's Oratory.

There was no other information immediately available about why the priest, who suffered injuries to his upper body, may have been attacked.

Police were called and a suspect was arrested.

The oratory’s spokeswoman, Celine Barbeau, told Canada’s national broadcaster, CBC the circumstances around the attack were still unclear.

"We are waiting to hear more details about what happened and how he is," she said.

The attack, at around 8.40am on Friday, was caught on video as Father Grou livestreams his services for members of his congregation to watch remotely.

It shows a man wearing a dark winter coat and baseball cap approaching the altar from the right hand side. As he nears the priest he knocks over a candle and Father Grou moves away.

The priest then falls to the floor before the suspect appears to stab him.

The priest is able to sit and then stand up as the suspect is held by other members of the congregation. He was held by church security until police arrived.

The suspect remains in custody.