Charges laid against suspect in unprovoked Skytrain assault

A man, suspected of trying to pour flammable liquid on another man’s clothes and set him on fire while riding public transit in Burnaby, has been charged.

The Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP) says the incident occurred on Dec. 16 shortly before 3 p.m. on a SkyTrain travelling from Vancouver to Burnaby.

According to police, the victim was asleep when the alleged male perpetrator approached him. Police assume that the two do not know each other.

MTVP Const. Amanda Steed applauded that fellow SkyTrain passengers intervened before anyone got hurt.

“The bystanders on the train that actually intervened, they put themselves in the middle of the situation and actually pulled the suspect off the train and held them on the platform at Patterson Station for police to arrive,” she told 1130 NewsRadio.

Police say that the suspect was a 37-year-old Surrey man.

The BC Prosecution Service has now approved the charges of assault with a weapon, mischief causing actual danger to life, and possession of incendiary material against the man.

His first court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday.

“As you can imagine, attempting to light somebody on fire could have catastrophic consequences, injuries, even death, so it is terribly concerning,” Steed added.