Police investigating series of violent stranger attacks in Vancouver

Vancouver Police are investigating a series of violent stranger assaults that occurred last night in the city’s Fairview neighbourhood, and are asking anyone with information to call police.

“Three violent attacks happened in close proximity to each other within a short time-frame,” says Constable Tania Visintin. “At this time, investigators are trying to determine if any of the assaults are related.”

The first attack happened just after 6:30 p.m. near the False Creek seawall, just under the Cambie Street Bridge. The 70-year-old man was approached from behind, tackled to the ground, then punched and kicked several times by an unknown man.

About 45 minutes later, around 7:15 p.m., a 33-year-old woman was walking her dog in a lane near West 11th Avenue and Spruce Street when she was approached from behind by an unknown man and punched in the face.

The third attack happened just before 8:45 p.m. when a 23-year-old woman was stabbed while she was walking near West Broadway and Alder Street. The suspect, an unknown man, was last seen heading south on Alder Street. The woman suffered a serious but non-life-threatening injury.

“Incidents like these leave victims with physical and emotional scars, but they also cause fear and anxiety throughout the community,” adds Constable Visintin. “We’ve had investigators working on these cases since they happened to collect evidence that will lead to the person or people responsible, and we will share additional information about these incidents as the investigations continue.”

If anyone witnessed one of these incidents or has any information, they are asked to call VPD’s Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541.