Vancouver police investigating multiple stabbings

Vancouver police are investigating four violent assaults that took place during the morning rush hour on Thursday.

The violent incidents took place just after 8:30 a.m. between West Broadway, Cambie Street, Main Street and East Second Avenue.

According to police, three victims were taken to hospital in serious conditionwith stab wounds. A fourth person was also assaulted.

At Cambie and Broadway, where the incidents began, police had yellow tape strung around the crime scene. A puddle of blood could be seen next to a pile of items, including sunglasses, a cell phone and a bag. A VPD sergeant at thatscene said the victim was a courier.

An altercation between the first personand the 33-year-old suspect left the victim with stab wounds, said police. The suspect then headed east on Broadway, where another person was assaulted at Yukon Street.

The suspect continued to fleeand stabbed another victim at Quebec Street and East Fourth Avenue. A final victim was stabbed at Main Street and East Second Avenue, according to police.

The suspect, a Vancouver man, was pointed out to officers by a witness of the East Second Avenue stabbing who had remained on scene.

The suspect, who policebelieve is responsible for all four attackswas arrested without incident and remains in custody.

Amy Deol,owner of a Blenz coffee shop on West Broadway near Cambie Street,saida nurse who was trying to stop the victimfrom bleeding out came into her shop to clean up.

"There was blood everywhere, so she neededto wash her hands, so I just took my key and opened the door for her, and she was kind ofshaky.It is scary. Everybody who walked in this morning, everybody was talking about it," said Deol.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the attacks to contactdetectives from the VPD's Major Crime section at 604-717-2541.

VPD Const.Jason Doucettesays they are looking for information on the attacksbut would also like to offer the support ofvictims services.

"Seeing something like this could be traumatic, and we want to make sure that we're able to provide them support and any available resources that could be useful to them," said Doucette.