Moviegoers pepper-sprayed at Surrey, B.C., cinema
Children were among audience at the time, police said; Vancouver council votes to restrict bear spray sales
Several people were pepper-sprayed while they watched a movie at a cinema in Surrey, B.C., on Saturday evening, police said.
Surrey RCMP said a male suspect entered Theatre 6 of Landmark Cinemas in the city's Guildford area around 5:30 p.m. PT and sprayed patrons before leaving.
Police said 20-30 people, including children, were in the theatre at the time.
All of the moviegoers affected by the pepper spray were treated at the scene and police say there were no injuries.
"This was a disturbing assault on movie theatre patrons that will be fully investigated by police," says Surrey RCMP Cpl. Vanessa Munn.
Munn said there have been similar recent attacks in Alberta and Ontario and investigators are in contact with law enforcement agencies in those provinces.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or solvecrime.ca if they want to remain anonymous.
Police are also seeking dashcam footage from the area surrounding the theatre, which is attached to the Guildford Town Centre mall, between 5:20 p.m. and 5:40 p.m. on Saturday.
Vancouver tightens bear-spray sale rules
On Tuesday, Vancouver city council unanimously approved tougher rules for the sale of bear spray following an increase in its use in crimes.
The new rules prohibit the sale of bear spray to anyone under 19. Stores will have to keep the spray locked up or inaccessible to the public and keep records of who is buying it.
In 2022, there were 729 assaults, robberies and threats involving bear spray in the city, according to the Vancouver Police Department — a 68 per cent increase since 2018.
A city staff report noted that Surrey, Chilliwack and Port Coquitlam regulated bear spray sales in 1998, 2021 and 2022, respectively, which resulted in fewer incidents.