3 people injured, 1 person in custody after stabbing at University of Waterloo

Three people have been injured while a man is in custody after a stabbing at the University of Waterloo, police say.

Waterloo Regional Police said officers were called to the school at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, after receiving reports of a stabbing at Hagey Hall.

When they arrived, they found two women and a man suffering from stab wounds.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening, Waterloo police Supt. Shaena Morris said three victims were injured but were in non-life-threatening condition.

Morris said a man was “quickly” arrested after the incident, with the help of the university’s special constables.

In a tweet at around 4:50 p.m., the school said there was “no further threat to our campus community,” and asked people in Hagey Hall to vacate “immediately” leaving all the doors open.

The person in custody is a member of the university community, Morris confirmed.

Nick Manning, the associate vice-president of communications at the university said the incident occurred in a second-year philosophy class, adding that two students and a professor were injured.

Students at the university told Global News the stabbing occurred during a gender studies class.

Morris said the incident was contained to the university.

“There’s no further threat to public safety, either on campus or outside in the broader community at this time,” she said.

According to Morris, a motive for the attack is not immediately known.

“Obviously, we’re under investigation currently,” she said. “We do have investigators with our person under arrest determining that right now.”

Morris said no charges had been laid yet.

Shortly after the incident, the school cancelled all remaining classes scheduled to take place at Hagey Hall on Wednesday.

“All other campus operations will proceed as usual,” the school said in a tweet.

In a tweet at around 7:30 p.m., the school said police had cleared Hagey Hall, but that it would remain closed until Thursday morning.

“There continues to be no further threat to our campus community,” the tweet read.

Manning said the university is working to provide support to those impacted by the incident.

“Our first thoughts — of course — go to the students who are in the class, and have turned immediately to making sure that in addition to supporting the police inquiry, we’ve been there to support the mental health of our students and our staff,” he said.

Manning said counsellors from the Canadian Mental Health Association will be at the university to provide support as needed.

Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe issued a statement on Twitter in response to the incident, noting that there was not further threat to the community.

“This was a very troubling & disturbing incident. I’m relieved that the individual involved was quickly apprehended,” she wrote.  “Waterloo City Council & staff offer our support & hopes for a full recovery to those injured on UW’s campus today.”