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A 23-year-old reservist with the Canadian Forces was injured in what the RCMP call “unprovoked” assault with a knife in Nanaimo last night.

It happened around 10:40 p.m. at a bus stop near the intersection of Bruce Avenue and Fifth Street.

The victim was approached by another man who, without warning, slashed him with a knife across the neck.

The suspect then fled, and the reservist managed to get help at a nearby restaurant.

He was taken to hospital, where he required several stitches to close the wound and was later released.

The suspect is described as white, 20-25 years of age, 5 ft 6″ tall, wearing a black jacket with white stripes on the sleeves and lighter colored blue jeans. He also wore a grey hoodie underneath his black jacket.

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Mounties say there is reason to believe the victim was assaulted because of his involvement with the Canadian Forces.

The RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit has taken over the investigation.

Anyone who might have seen the assault happen is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) .