Seattle police have arrested a man following two consecutive days of random stabbings that injured 10 people, including five on Friday, authorities said.
Eric Burden, the city’s deputy police chief, told reporters at the scene that the arrests were made following a series of attacks on Friday, but that several other stabbings on Thursday were “likely to be related.” ” he said.
There are similar suspect descriptions in the cases, and police believe they are related due to the “random nature” of the attacks, he said.
“This is a terrible tragedy,” Baden said.
The Friday afternoon stabbing occurred around 2 p.m. in an approximately four-block area of Seattle’s Chinatown International District.
Police said witnesses reported seeing the suspect, and officers found him nearby and took him into custody without incident. Police said the murder weapon was found near the arrested persons, and one of the victims had a knife lodged in them.
Four of the victims were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, and one was treated and released at the scene. A Harborview spokesperson confirmed that four victims were in hospital, all in critical condition.
Five other people were stabbed in separate incidents in the same area from early Thursday morning. The victims included a 52-year-old woman who suffered multiple stab wounds.
“It is our understanding that all of them are survivors,” Baden said of the victims.
Police said the 10th stabbing was the result of a robbery and it was not clear if it was related to the random attack.
Authorities are working to identify the suspect, who police say is between the ages of 30 and 40.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said the city would increase law enforcement resources and patrols in response to the attack.
“The stabbings in Little Saigon and the Chinatown International District are horrifying and appalling and should never happen anywhere in our city,” he said.
