At least 7 stabbings and knife-related incidents in past week in K-W and surrounding area

At least one expert says it’s too premature to say if there’s been a spike in these types of crimes, but he is taking note of the number of incidents in the last week and their proximity to each other.

Is knife violence on the rise?

There have been at least seven stabbings or knife-related incidents in Kitchener-Waterloo and the surrounding areas in the past week alone.

But at least one expert says it’s too premature to say if there’s been a spike in these types of crimes. However, former Ontario Provincial Police commissioner and CTV News public safety analyst Chris Lewis does take note of the number of incidents in the last week and their proximity to each other.

“I think what is probably unusual is the fact there was a whole pile between Wellington County and Waterloo Region in a short period of time,” Lewis said.

Since Thursday, Kitchener and Waterloo have seen at least four knife-involved or stabbing-related incidents, including one that saw a youth charged and two people transported to hospital.

Investigators believe the accused and victims knew each other.

“Stabbings are more intimate,” Lewis said. “You have to get into someone's personal space. You can't do it from 10 or 15 yards away.”