Toronto woman Vanessa Kurpiewska, 31, died after she was stabbed on the eastbound subway platform just after 2 p.m., investigators say. A 37-year-old woman, who was also injured in the attack, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later released, police said in a news release Friday. Police were called to the station to reports of a man allegedly attacking and stabbing people. A man was arrested at the scene. Police investigated two stabbings at High Park tube station on Thursday afternoon. (Yan Theoret/CBC) Police say Jia Jin, 52, has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. He was scheduled to appear in court on Friday. According to the police, the accused and the victims did not know each other.
Multiple violent attacks on TTC property
Thursday’s attack was the latest in a string of violent incidents on Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) property this year. In April, a woman was injured when she was pushed onto the subway tracks at Bloor-Yonge Station. She survived by pushing herself onto the subway platform to avoid being hit by an oncoming train. The woman is now suing the TTC for $1 million. A few days before this incident, a man was rushed to hospital after being stabbed on the platform of St. George. Police made arrests in both cases. Then in June, a 27-year-old woman was assaulted on a TTC bus when a man poured a liquid substance on her and set her on fire. He was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital where he later died. A 33-year-old man was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
More staff and police will be assigned to the TTC
Toronto Mayor John Tory described Thursday’s attack as shocking and said people can expect a greater police presence on the TTC. “We can never allow acts of violence of this nature to happen anywhere in our city,” Tory tweeted. “My thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who lost her life. “We’ll just have to sit down with the TTC and police officials again to see what else we can do to ensure the safety of TTC riders beyond the many measures the TTC has put in place,” Tory added. TTC passengers gather outside Yonge-Bloor station on April 17, 2022, after a woman was pushed onto the subway tracks. (CBC) Meanwhile, TTC CEO Rick Leary said the transit agency will add more special constables and uniformed staff to the subway system starting Thursday in response to the stabbing. “The TTC moves hundreds of millions of customers every year without issue, but is constantly looking for ways to improve safety,” he said.
