Slashing on Surrey bus sends one to hospital: Transit police

Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP) says one man was hospitalized after being slashed “across the throat” on a bus in Surrey Saturday morning.

Officers say the incident took place just after 9:30 a.m., when a fight broke out between two men riding a bus along Fraser Highway near 156th Street.

“During the altercation, one of the males allegedly took out a knife and slashed the other male across the throat,” said transit police in an email to CityNews.

As the incident took place while the bus was moving, the driver had to pull over at Fraser Highway and 148th Street.

An alleged knife attack on a bus in Surrey resulted in a man being hospitalized. (Credit: Shane MacKichan)

Alongside the Surrey RCMP, Metro Vancouver Transit Police officers found and arrested the suspect.

Transit police say the victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

Const. Amanda Steed says the transit system is designed to be safe. She described the incident as a random attack.

“Our numbers show that these types of incidents and crimes against people is actually down. While we have noticed an uptick in sort of mental health-related and violent crimes sort of in the Lower Mainland, our numbers show that crime is actually down.”

For those on public transit who may witness something happening, Steed advises people to put themselves out of harm’s way.

“It is always my best advice to just disengage, try and find a safe space, whether or not that’s getting off the bus or getting off the train, acknowledging to the bus driver, something’s going on, but just try to disengage. I know it’s hard and people want to step in and do the right thing. But if you find something like this happening to yourself, you just think about your safety, whatever you’re arguing about,” Steed said, “and call 911 as soon as something breaks out.”

Steed notes there are safety features within the transit system, including a yellow strip above seats that triggers a silent alarm. Riders can also text 877-777 to report incidents to their police dispatchers.

Transit police are asking for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage of the incident to come forward.

They add more information will be available soon, as the investigation is still in its early stages.

with files from Cole Schisler.