Student hit on the head in racially motivated attack in Downtown Vancouver

The 19-year-old Asian woman was walking near Dunsmuir and Cambie Streets Tuesday night when a stranger hit her at the back of her head with a pole.

A woman was assaulted in downtown Vancouver in what police say may have been a racially-motivated attack. 

The 19-year-old Asian woman was walking near Dunsmuir and Cambie Streets at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday when a stranger hit her at the back of her head with a pole. 

“Although there were other people walking in the block at the time of assault, they couldn’t have prevented the attack because it was so sudden,” said Const. Jason Doucette of the Vancouver Police Department.

Witnesses called 911 and were able to provide information about the attacker to police. They also stayed with the injured woman until first-responders arrived to offer aid. 

The woman, a student, sustained injuries that required medical attention, but are not life-threatening. 

The incident comes two days after a 33-year-old woman from Coquitlam was suddenly attacked from behind while walking on Seymour Street near Pender Street with a group of friends. Her attacker allegedly struck her head with a small hammer. Shaundrea Janette Lynxleg has been charged with assault with a weapon.

Last month, Kenneth Stephan Solowan, 37, was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly slashing two people with a machete while they were loading suitcases into a taxi outside the Empress Hotel in the Downtown Eastside on June 19.

Officers searched the area for the suspect in this most recent assault but were unsuccessful. 

On Wednesday, police released a photo of him taken just after the assault in the hopes someone would recognize him.

Anyone who recognizes the man or has information about the assault is asked to call Vancouver Police investigators at 604-717-2541.

chchan@postmedia.com

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