Police search for motive in North Vancouver stabbings, as community reels from violen…

The quiet suburb of the city’s North Shore is a haven for young families and retired couples. But at about 2 p.m. on Saturday, North Vancouver RCMP took a suspect — a man in his 20s — into custody after a string of stabbings that killed one woman and sent six people to hospital.

Footage of the takedown captured on a cellphone shows a man in black lying on his stomach on the ground before being surrounded by officers.

Witnesses working and shopping in the area described locking themselves inside a shop and phoning 911, seeing the suspect being taken down by what appeared to be rubber bullets and looking on in horror as he wielded a large knife.

The attack has shaken the community of Lynn Valley, a neighbourhood at the northern edge of Metro Vancouver nestled between Mount Seymour and Mount Fromme and known for its proximity to deep trails.

WATCH | Police arrest suspect after multiple stabbings in North Vancouver:

Police apprehended a man in his 20s near a library and mall where people were stabbed Saturday afternoon. 0:20

Piper French, who works at area restaurant Browns Socialhouse, said she was driving by on Saturday when she saw ambulances, police cruisers and a throng of people who appeared to have been evacuated from the library.

“It was quite shocking because everyone looked quite scared,” she said.

“I don’t even know what to say because this is such a safe neighborhood…. There’s always kids out there riding their bikes. Especially in broad daylight I’ve never felt unsafe here until now … it’s a little bit unsettling.”

Tim Hill, who works in an office around the corner from the scene and witnessed the aftermath of the stabbing, said he moved to the neighbourhood 11 years ago because he felt it would be a safe, quiet place to raise his daughter.

“There’s no violent crime that you ever hear about around here. There’s the occasional break-in, but it’s a very quiet, peaceful neighbourhood with a lot of young families,” he said.

“It’s really shocking and upsetting, and we’re still trying to process what happened, really.”

Police seek reason for attack

Sgt. Frank Jang of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team — which serves 28 RCMP and four municipal police communities in British Columbia — said key to the case will be establishing a motive for the attack. He said the suspect has had interactions with police in the past and has a criminal record.

“Obviously the question is why did this happen, I understand. We believe we know the how, the what, the where and the when. It is our job now to determine why,” he told a news conference near the library on Saturday.

“Every little thing is important on this one. If you heard anything, if you were here and you saw the man that was taken into custody, if you heard him saying anything or whatever the case may be, we need you to come forward.”

Jonathan Wilkinson, the MP for North Vancouver who is also Canada’s environment minister, issued a statement on Twitter saying the “horrific incident” at the library left him “shocked and shaken.”

“This library has been a secure place for families to gather in the Lynn Valley community for years. Until today, it was unimaginable that such a senseless act of violence could have occurred in the very heart of it.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also offered condolences to the victims in a tweet later on Saturday.

“My heart is in North Vancouver tonight,” he wrote. “To everyone affected by this violent incident in Lynn Valley, know that all Canadians are keeping you in our thoughts and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.”