A West Side neighbourhood was the site of three violent attacks last night.

Vancouver police say that the first occurred near the False Creek Seawall, underneath the Cambie Street Bridge. That's a very short walk from a Vancouver police station.

There, a 70-year-old man tackled from behind and kicked and punched several times just after 6:30 p.m.

This was on the northeastern edge of Fairview.

The next attack occurred 45 minutes later near West 11th Avenue and Spruce Street.

According to a VPD news release, a 33-year-old woman was walking her dog in a lane when she was approached from behind and punched in the face.

Then just before 8:45 p.m., a 23-year-old woman was stabbed while walking near West Broadway and Alder Street. She suffered a non-life-threatening injury.

“Three violent attacks happened in close proximity to each other within a short time-frame,” Const. Tania Visintin said in a VPD news release. “At this time, investigators are trying to determine if any of the assaults are related."

None of the victims knew their assailants.

“Incidents like these leave victims with physical and emotional scars, but they also cause fear and anxiety throughout the community," Visintin noted. "We've had investigators working on these cases since they happened to collect evidence that will lead to the person or people responsible, and we will share additional information about these incidents as the investigations continue."

Anyone with information is being asked to call the VPD's major crime section at 604-717-2541.