Ottawa police are seeking a young black woman in connection with the stabbing of two 22-year-old women in the ByWard Market early Tuesday.



First responders say the women were stabbed in an apparent fight shortly after 1 a.m. near the corner of Rideau and Nelson streets.



One of the women was described as being in critical but stable condition with as many as five stabbing wounds to the chest, abdomen and left arm. The other received what were described as minor wounds.



The suspect is described as a black woman in her early 20s, believed to be between five-feet-three-inches and five-feet-five-inches tall, wearing a black jacket and black pants at the time of the fight.



In the other incident, late Monday, a 32-year-old man was taken to hospital in serious condition after he was stabbed around 10:40 p.m. at Rideau and Dalhousie streets.



Police said a 17-year-old youth was arrested and charged with assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and breach of undertaking.



He was to appear in court Tuesday.



While the incidents were close to each other, there was no indication they were related.



The overnight attacks follow Sunday's stabbing death in the St. Laurent area and two other stabbing incidents.