Police seek witnesses after unprovoked attack on woman in Vancouver's West End

Vancouver police say they're investigating after a man grabbed and tackled a woman who was "minding her own business" in the city's West End on Saturday.

They say in a news release that the 24-year-old woman was walking home after shopping on Davie Street when she was attacked from behind by an unknown man in Maxine Lane, between Bute and Thurlow streets, at about 9:40 p.m. PT.

Police say both fell to the ground and the woman began to scream.

The release says the screams seemed to scare the attacker, who ran away, and the woman was not physically injured.

The suspect is described as white, about five feet 11 inches tall, and in his mid-40s. He was wearing a waist-length black leather jacket, dark pants and a dark face mask.

"Every indication is that this attack was unprovoked, and we believe the victim did not know the suspect," Sgt. Steve Addison said in the release.

"We also think there were people in the area who may have information that can help solve this crime, and we're appealing to those people to come forward."