One worshipper knocked the axe from the man's hands, and held him down until police arrived, local media reports as quoted by BBC.

A 24-year-old man was arrested from the scene.

He was identified as Mohammad Moiz Omar, police said.

Some congregants had minor injures from the bear spray, the mosque's imam told BBC.

"On March 19, 2022, at approximately 7:00 am, police attended the Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre in the area of McAdam Road and Matheson Boulevard in Mississauga regarding an assault. It is alleged that a man walked into the Mosque and discharged bear spray towards the members of the Mosque while brandishing a hatchet. The members of the Mosque quickly subdued the man until police arrived," the police said in a statement.

"The Mosque members received minor injuries as a result of the bear spray," the police said.