(Waterloo) Three people were taken to hospital on Wednesday with non-life-threatening injuries and a suspect was taken into custody after a stabbing during a philosophy class at the University of Waterloo , Ontario.
Waterloo Regional Police told reporters the motive for the attack was not yet established, but the suspect was being questioned by investigators.
“I can’t talk about motive at the moment. Obviously an investigation is ongoing, but investigators are in the process of interviewing the person under arrest,” Waterloo Regional Police Service Superintendent Shaena Morris said at a news conference. .
“There are no other threats to public safety either on campus or off in the wider community at this time,” Ms.me Morris, who confirmed that the victims’ injuries were not life-threatening.
The three injured are two students and a professor, said Nick Manning, associate vice president of communications at the University of Waterloo.
At the same press conference, Mr.me Morris identified the suspect as a member of the “university community”, but would not confirm he was a student.
Security was tightened on campus in the hours following the afternoon attack, but the situation returned to normal later that evening.
Mr Manning said the assault happened in Philosophy Room 202, which the university’s website says deals with “gender issues”.
“Our whole community is very concerned that something like this could happen here. It’s a big shock,” Manning told reporters.
“Our first thoughts go of course to the students who are taking the course and who immediately cooperated with the police investigation. We are here to look after the mental health of our students and staff,” added Manning.
Asked about security in the building before the attack, Manning said the university generally does not have a strong security presence on campus.
“We are lucky to be in a region of the world where this kind of thing happens very, very rarely. »
Mr Manning added that the university would review its “emergency notification systems” following the stabbing.
The attack happened in Hagey Hall, where classes were canceled following the incident, the university had previously said.