A Man with a Knife Injures Nine People, Including Refugees, at an Idaho Apartment Complex

A knife-wielding man stabbed and injured nine people in an apartment complex in Idaho early Sunday. The Boise apartment complex also housed many refugees. Among the wounded, there are also victims belonging to the refugee community.

Call to the police

The police received a call stating there was a man with a knife who was on a stabbing spree. The police arrived within four minutes of the call and they saw nine people injured. The victims were inside the parking lot as well in the apartment complex First aid was administered to them. Some were in critical condition. All the victims were taken to the hospital for further treatment.

Boise Police Chief Bill Bones said, "At this point we haven't lost anybody, but as I said the injuries are very serious."

Arrest of the suspect

When the police arrived at the crime scene, the witnesses told them the culprit ran away. However, the police were successful in nabbing the 30-year-old suspect whom they took into custody. They have not yet been able to find the motive behind the gruesome attack.

"This incident is not a representation of our community but a single evil individual who attacked people without provocation that we are aware of at this time," Bones said.

He also added this was the first time there were so many victims in a single attack and the people are really scared and are in shock.

Bones expressed this sentiment saying, "As you can imagine, the Wylie Street Apartment and our community is reeling from this attack."

"You can imagine this is a very tight-knit community here in this apartment complex. The attack had a devastating effect on the people. We're doing everything we can tonight to get them services, to get them through this evening and we'll be working with them in the days and weeks that follow," Bones said.

It is not yet clear why the culprit committed the crime and whether he was connected to any of the victims.

The police are trying to figure out the identity of the suspect and they will release it soon.

"He did come from out of state, but I don't know how long he's been in the city," Bones told reporters.

The Weapon

The knife used by the perpetrator has not yet been found and the police are of the opinion that the suspect had thrown the knife before being caught. The police have searched the complex and a canal which is situated near the complex but have not yet been able to locate the weapon.

The Victims

The victims belong to different age groups. Out of the nine victims, four have life-threatening injuries. The police have not released the names or identities of the victims.

Victim-witness coordinators and counselors were being provided to the victims, their family and friends and the people living in the complex.

The police Chief has requested everyone to pray for the victims and their families. "Our hearts go out to the victims who are in the hospital tonight, please keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers," he said.