Police search for suspect after woman attacked in her home

A woman in her 40s is in surgeryafter she was attacked in her Oak Bay home, Tuesday.

Police are still looking for a suspect.

Police said they received a 911 call around 7:30 a.m. reporting the attack.

It happened in a residential area in the 2500 block of Esplanade,across from Willows Beach.

According to police, awoman who lived in the home sustained significant injuries from a large edged weapon, possibly a machete.She was taken to hospital by B.C. Ambulance.

Sgt.Rob Smith is the Community Liaison and Support Services officer for Oak Bay Police

He says they don't know if it was a targeted or random attack.

"No indication that the community is in danger at all," said Smith."But the man is still out there and he showed violent tendencies this morning. We don't know where he is but again the motive of this attack is unknown."

Smith says police will question the woman further once she's out of surgery.

He says there are signs of a break-in at the home.Saanich Major Crimes Section has taken over the investigation as part of Oak Bay's service agreement with the Saanich Police Department.

The block was taped off Tuesday morning and the home was under heavy police presence as forensic investigators worked inside the house.

Officers walked the beach and a police dog was brought in to search the neighbourhood.

Elementary schools in the area were temporarily locked down as a result of the incident.

Police are appealing to the public for any information.

The suspect is described as a man in his 20swith a heavy build.He was wearing a brown jacket, dark pants, a baseball cap with a white and blue handkerchief around his neck.