Police hope providing video images will help identify the people involved

Vancouver police say three separate people were assaulted by strangers in unprovoked attacks on Thursday in downtown Vancouver.

Some of these incidents were captured on security cameras.

The first happened just after 6 a.m. at Victory Square on West Hastings Street, when a 73-year-old woman was punched in the eye and pushed to the ground. Police say the woman was in line for a recycling cup program when another woman tried to steal her bags of recycling.

The attacker fled eastbound on West Hastings near Cambie Street with one of the victim’s bags of recycling. A City of Vancouver employee recognized the 33-year-old woman in the CCTV footage released by VPD, and police were able to arrest her on Friday.

She was released on an undertaking to appear at  a future court appearance. The victim was taken to hospital and is in stable condition.

The second occurred at around 12:30 p.m. near Commercial Drive and Adanac Street, when a 44-year-old man talking on the phone was approached by a man who began making racist remarks. Police say the victim told the other man to leave him alone, but was then elbowed, punched and kicked before witnesses intervened.

The attacker is described as a dark-skinned man between 40 and 50 years old, about 5-foot-7 with a slim build. He was wearing a grey dress shirt, tan pants, white shoes and a green cross-body bag, and was last seen walking southbound on Commercial.

The third incident happened at around 6:20 p.m. downtown near Burrard and West Georgia streets, when a 33-year-old pedestrian walking westbound was suddenly struck in the back by a man who had been walking in the opposite direction. They “briefly exchanged words,” according to police, before the man fled eastbound on West Georgia.

The attacker is described as Black, about 5-foot-9, with short black hair and a black beard. He was wearing a green winter jacket and carrying a black backpack.

The VPD is asking anyone who witnessed any of these assaults, or has video or can help identify any of the people involved, to contact Vancouver police at 604-717-3321.