Man stabbed near downtown Nanaimo bus exchange Thursday night

A man was taken to hospital Thursday night after being stabbed near the downtown bus exchange in Nanaimo.

According to the Nanaimo RCMP, the incident happened at around 8:30 p.m. on June 25th at a bus stop outside Port Place Mall.

Police, firefighters and BC Emergency Health Services responded to the scene, where officers found an adult man suffering from a stab wound to his arm.

Bystanders and police officers provided emergency first aid before the victim was transported to hospital for treatment.

Police say the stabbing occurred near a row of benches on the south side of Port Place Mall, across from the downtown bus exchange on Front Street.

The area was busy at the time, with numerous people nearby when the incident unfolded.

No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.

“Our priority is the safety and security of everyone in our community. While we understand that an incident like this can be concerning, we want to reassure the public that we are committing all necessary resources to identify and apprehend the person responsible,” said Inspector Donovan Tait, Operations Officer for the Nanaimo RCMP.

Police are now asking anyone who witnessed the stabbing or noticed suspicious activity near the downtown bus exchange, Terminal Avenue or Front Street between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. to contact investigators.

Nanaimo RCMP are also looking for dashcam footage, cellphone video or surveillance footage from the area that could help identify the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at (250) 754-2345.