Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned a “deliberate attack” on a Hindu temple in Canada and criticised “cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats”, in his first comments on a diplomatic face-off with Canada.

Australia’s foreign minister says she raised allegations with her Indian counterpart that India has targeted Sikh activists in Canada.

The prime ministers of India and Canada condemned violence that broke out on Sunday at a Hindu temple near Toronto at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the countries. Videos posted on social media appeared to show people hitting each other with flagpoles and throwing punches in the Toronto suburb of Brampton.