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Two males are recovering in hospital after being stabbed in an downtown apartment building early Sunday morning in what police believe is the first such incident involving an Airbnb rental.

Police said they believe five people were at a party in the suite on the fifth floor of The Avenue building at 265 Portage Ave. and alcohol was involved.

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“This is the first incident that we’ve had (involving an Airbnb),” said police spokesperson Const. Rob Carver. “I think you can look to other cities for some background but this is a not uncommon situation where some people rented a place. We’ve had it in hotel rooms. Somebody rents a hotel room and get six people together and add booze and/or drugs to the mix and the next thing you know somebody is hurt. Unfortunately, it’s not unusual.”

Airbnb is an online marketplace for renting short-term accommodations.

Both victims were taken to hospital, one in unstable condition but later upgraded to stable and the other in stable condition, said Carver.

It is believed that an argument led to the stabbing.

“The stabbing was inside the building in an apartment,” said Carver. “There was a party with drinks, a very classic situation where there was an argument over a lady and two people got stabbed.”

An arrest warrant has been issued for a 25-year-old Winnipeg man in connection with the incident.

gdawkins@postmedia.com

Twitter: @SunGlenDawkins