The Abbotsford Police Department (APD) is investigating two similar assaults that took place in Mill Lake Park this month.
The first occurred at about 3 p.m. on Monday, June 9, when a 26-year-old man was riding his bike into the northwest portion of the park.
Const. Ian MacDonald said the man stopped to have a cigarette near three young men who were also smoking.
One of them asked for a cigarette and then demanded all of them.
MacDonald said this quickly escalated into an unprovoked attack on the man, who was struck several times, possibly even with a skateboard.
A knife was produced by one of the three suspects, and the victim suffered wounds to his hands while attempting to block the blade.
The victim rode a short distance and called police. He was treated in hospital for scrapes, cuts and bruises that resulted from the altercation.
The second assault was on Saturday, June 21 at about 5 a.m. A 39-year-old man was riding his bike in the 2500 block of Gladwin Road and entered Mill Lake Park via a gravel path.
He was approached by three young men who demanded that he give them his bike. When the man refused, the group began assaulting him.
Although the victim did not observe a knife during the attack, he suffered injuries that were consistent with shallow stab wounds, MacDonald said.
In both incidents, the three suspects were Caucasian, appeared to be in their early 20s and wore "skater" type clothing.
The investigation of both assaults is continuing.
"The similarity between the incidents and the locations is enough to cause concern," MacDonald said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the APD at 604-859-5225, text 222973 (abbypd) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.