The Branch of International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center in Oakland. (CBS) The Branch of International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center in Oakland. (CBS)

OAKLAND (CBS SF) — An elderly Buddhist monk was in critical condition after being stabbed by a fellow monk in Oakland Tuesday night, a church elder confirmed to KPIX 5.

Oakland police say the assault happened at 6:19 p.m. Tuesday evening in the 600 block of Douglas Avenue in Oakland. The 66-year-old man was taken to a local hospital and listed in critical condition.

The small community of monks who live in the Oakland neighborhood say they’re committed to living in peaceful co-existence with one another

A church elder told KPIX 5’s Devin Fehely that the victim was a Buddhist monk from The Branch of International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center, near the location of the assault.

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“He was attacking him with two butcher knives, just chopping him up,” Monk Chundoeun Phin said.

Phin says he heard the attack and rushed downstairs to find one of his fellow monks on top of the 66-year-old leader of their community.

“My reaction was so fast. I pushed him as hard as i could. I must have startled him because he dropped both of the knives.”

Phin says the attacker ran away while he frantically called 911 for help.

“I grabbed a towel and put it on the victim’s head and told him to hold on until the ambulance came.”

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Phin says the attacker had only recently joined the monastery, and is in disbelief that someone they welcomed into their home could commit such a violent crime.

“I feel bad. I thought he would be a whole changed person. But something just snapped in his head.”