5 B.C. inmates transported to Abbotsford hospital after stabbings at different prisons

The Abbotsford Regional Hospital was locked down Thursday night, after receiving at least five inmates from two Fraser Valley prisons.

Three inmates from the Kent Institution in Agassiz were found in critical condition, while two inmates from the Matsqui institution in Abbotsford were also hurt.

Global News has learned Correctional Services Canada requested Abbotsford police to attend the hospital as several inmates from a nearby prison were transported to the hospital.

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According to the Union of Correctional Officers Canada’s B.C. president, John Randle, there were multiple stabbing incidents at a “number” of federal institutions in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland.

“Last night we had multiple security incidents at multiple institutes at the same time (with) edge weapons,”

“They happened at approximately the same time and, generally, when something like that happens you would tend to think there was a level of coordination involved.”

Randle said there has been a massive influx of weapons inside B.C. prisons due to daily deliveries of contraband through drones.

“The number (of weapons) is alarming … the old prison shanks are one thing but these new weapons they are getting in because of drones is quite concerning,” he said.

BC Emergency Health Services said it responded to two incidents at two different prisons.

“We can confirm that (we) received a call at 5 p.m. about an incident at the Kent Institution in Agassiz. Five ground ambulances and two advanced care paramedic responder units responded,” Jasprit Khanda, BCEHS’s paramedic public information officer, said.

“Paramedics cared for and transported three patients to hospital in critical condition.

“BCEHS also received a call at 5:10 p.m. about an incident at the Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford. Paramedics cared for and transported two patients to hospital.”

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CSC had concerns with the inmates “due to the background of (the) inmates posing safety concerns,” Abbotsford police said.

Police could be seen outside the hospital with some officers leading a person into the hospital in handcuffs.

As of Friday morning, the hospital is no longer under lockdown.

Global News has reached out to Abbotsford police and Correctional Services Canada for more information.