Mosque imam attacked in Lausanne, Switzerland

Mr. Rifai was rushed to a hospital in the Swiss city of Lausanne along with four other worshippers who were also attacked.

Police said that the attacker had stabbed the imam in the stomach during a religious ceremony and that he had been arrested.

"There (was) a person in the Islamic centre who injured the imam with a knife," a police spokesman said, without identifying the attacker. He also said that the imam’s wounds were serious but not life-threatening and that the other four were slightly injured.

Over 200 Muslims attended the ceremony in the centre which is close to the railway station.

The attacker approached Mr. Rifai and stabbed him while he was praying. It was also reported that he threatened worshippers who came to rescue Mr. Rifai.