Man charged after double stabbing in Newmarket restaurant

York Regional Police say a man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after allegedly stabbing two men multiple times in a restaurant in Newmarket. (Greg Ross/CBC - image credit)
York Regional Police say a man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after allegedly stabbing two men multiple times in a restaurant in Newmarket. (Greg Ross/CBC - image credit)

A 40-year-old man is facing a slew of charges, including attempted murder, following a double stabbing inside a restaurant in Newmarket, Ont., police say.

Officers responded to reports of a stabbing inside a restaurant in the area of Davis Drive and Longford Drive around 9 p.m. on Sunday, York Regional Police said in a news release Tuesday. When they arrived, they found the suspect outside the restaurant and two victims with stab wounds near the entrance.

Police learned the suspect attacked a 34-year-old man with a knife inside the restaurant, stabbing him multiple times, according to the release. A 68-year-old man who attempted to stop the attack was also stabbed several times, and the suspect stole one of the victim's cell phones, police said.

The altercation moved into a parking lot outside the restaurant before bystanders intervened and subdued the suspect until police arrived, according to the release.

Both of the victims suffered non-life threatening injuries, and no one else was injured.

The accused is facing two counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a weapon and one count each of possessing a weapon for committing an offence, mischief to property and theft under $5,000.

York police are asking for anyone with information about the incident to contact its criminal investigation division.