Multiple hospitalized, suspect shot in machete attack on Vancouver's Granville Street

Five people, including a suspect, were taken to hospital with serious injuries after a mass police rally in downtown Vancouver's main entertainment district on Saturday night. .

The incident began before 10:00 pm, according to a Vancouver Police statement.

Police were called to the scene by the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service around that time after a man set fire to a suite in a boarding house near the intersection of Granville and Smith streets, the VPD said. 7}

"The man then attacked and stabbed four people inside the building," police said in a statement.

"When the police arrived, they were confronted by a suspect still armed with a weapon."

Police described the man's weapon as a "machete," He said on Twitter at around 1:30 am on Sunday that police had shot the suspect.  

Canada-based musician Ashley Pater used to perform at several clubs in the area and live at one of her music venues, the Roxy Her Cabaret. told CTV News.

"Midway through my set, my manager smelled something like gas," Peter said. "He reported it, and the next thing he knew the authorities had been called and the alarm was going off." said it escalated rapidly.

"The next thing I noticed was that I saw someone lying on the ground surrounded by firefighters," she said. "After hearing rumors of gunshots and things like that in the street, we were all led down the sidewalk to Smithy Street,"

in a Facebook post. Roxy Cabaret said it was closing early "due to an incident at a nearby business" and revealed no staff or patrons. involved in riots.

Police said the suspect was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment for serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

They added that four victims of the machete attack had also been taken to hospital with "serious life-altering injuries."

The VPD's Serious Crimes Division is leading the investigation.

BC Independent Research Service. Called whenever an incident involving a police officer in the state results in death or serious injury to a civilian, CTV News has confirmed it has been called to investigate