An investigation is underway in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside after a woman was reportedly set on fire earlier this week while she was sitting on the sidewalk.
Vancouver police said the incident happened Monday at about 1:30 p.m. A woman in her 50s was sitting near Dunlevy and Powell streets when a stranger allegedly "poured a flammable substance on her head, and lit it on fire.""This was a shocking attack that targeted a vulnerable member of our community," said Const. Tania Visintin. "We need witnesses and anyone with information to call police and help solve this crime.
Police described the suspect in that incident as a white man in his 30s. He fled the scene before investigators arrived. A second incident is also under investigation, police said. On that same day, a man called police and reported his homemade shelter was set on fire while he was sleeping near Columbia Street and West 5th Avenue. He told police he put the fire out himself and escaped without injuries."Investigators don’t believe the two incidents are connected," Visintin said. "However, it is still very early in the investigation, so we are not ruling anything out.
Police said they don't believe the incidents are connected because the descriptions of the suspects are different.With files from CTV News Vancouver's Regan Hasegawa
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Vancouver police investigating after woman set on fire in Downtown EastsideConst. Tania Visintin says the attack on the woman was shocking because it targeted a ‘vulnerable member’ of the community
Read more »
Woman set on fire in Vancouver in hospital with serious burns, say policeThe woman, in her 50s, was sitting on the west side of Dunlevy on Monday when someone threw a flammable substance on her head and lit her on fire.
Read more »
Woman shot by police after opening fire in Dallas airportA 37-year-old woman fired several gunshots, apparently at the ceiling, inside of Dallas' Love Field Airport on Monday before an officer shot and wounded her, authorities said.
Read more »
Police: Woman opened fire in Dallas airport; cop shot herA 37-year-old woman fired several gunshots, apparently at the ceiling, inside of Dallas' Love Field Airport on Monday before an officer shot and wounded her, authorities said.
Read more »
Police: Woman who opened fire at Dallas airport shot at copA woman accused of firing several gunshots inside a Dallas airport faces a charge of aggravated assault of a public servant because she allegedly fired one round toward a police officer, according to a warrant.
Read more »
Former Canucks forward Jake Virtanen found not guilty of sexual assaultEx-Canucks forward Jake Virtanen was charged in January with sexual assault in connection to an encounter in a downtown Vancouver hotel room in 2017.
Read more »