UVIC have issued an alert asking people to avoid an area of the campus after a man was arrested with a knife Tuesday afternoon.
The incident began around noon, when the suspect threatened UVic staff with a knife.
“A person with a knife has been arrested near First Peoples House at the University of Victoria,” UVic said in a campus warning issued around 12:45 p.m.
The suspect was arrested by police, with the assistance of UVic staff, and near First Peoples House.
Police said there were no injuries from the incident.
CAMPUS WARNING: May 14, 12:45 p.m.
A person with a knife has been arrested near First Peoples House at the University of Victoria. Police and Campus Security are on site.
Please avoid the area.
More info: https://t.co/imkiXBQsRW pic.twitter.com/roReSPsaSX
— UniversityOfVictoria (@uvic) May 14, 2024
“Although the investigation is in its early stages, the male will be held in custody and be brought before a judge as soon as practicable. Investigators will be requesting he not be permitted to return to campus,” said a spokesperson for Saanich Police.
Last week, Saanich Police were investigating an incident where a man allegedly entered ‘People’s Park UVic’ multiple times this week and assaulted protesters.
People’s Park UVic is a protest camp that was set up on the campus quad since May 1st. They are calling on UVic to meet their demands, most of which involve the university’s divestment from their Israeli connections.
On Tuesday, May 7th, Saanich Police became aware of two incidents in which a man broke into the camp and assaulted protesters.
According to the administrators of People’s Park UVic, the suspect who police should be looking for has been circling the encampment since the day they set up on campus.
They said any interactions they had with him initially they were able to de-escalate, however he has gotten increasingly violent over the last few days.
Contrary to what Saanich Police are saying, encampment admins say that there were actually three incidents of assault from the same suspect.
Saanich Police have confirmed this incident is unrelated to the protests.
“Although it is believed the male was camping on campus, he was not believed to be part of the protest encampment.”
With files from Curtis Blandy
