Stabbing in downtown Vancouver sends 2 victims to hospital

Vancouver police say a 46-year-old man is in custody after an alleged stabbing in the city's downtown coreon Wednesday afternoon.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said in a statementthat they responded to calls of a man chasing peoplewith a knife around the 800 block ofCambie Street just before noon PT.

Two people received first aid from paramedics at the scene and were taken to hospital, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services spokesperson Brian Twaites.

Police had initially only reported one victim of the stabbing, and stated that their injuries were serious but not life-threatening.

WATCH |Witness describes scene of'serious assault'in downtown Vancouver:

Witness describes scene of serious assault in downtown Vancouver

5 months ago

Duration 0:33

Ron Festejo, who works on Cambie Street in downtown Vancouver, describes what he saw on March 20, as Vancouver police investigated what they say was a serious assault near Robson Street and Smithe Street.

A stretch ofCambie Street was closedfor several hours early Wednesday afternoon, but traffic was moving again in time for evening rush hour.

A CBC News reporterat the scene described at least three separate areas taped off by police between SmitheStreet and Robson Street, which a VPD officer said were connected to the same investigation.

Ron Festejo, who works nearby, described the scene to CBC News.

"It's quite shocking," Festejo said. "I saw lots of people just all of a sudden scrambling to run ... away from the person who was doing this.

"The police were on location within minutes and they apprehended the guy quite quickly."

VPD's Major Crime Section is now investigating the stabbing, and is asking for anyone with more information on the caseto contact them.