Man charged after TTC employee stabbed at Dupont Station

Toronto police have arrested and charged a man after a TTC employee was stabbed on a subway train on Wednesday.

The accused, 30, has been charged with assault, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and weapons dangerous. He is due to appear in court via video link at Old City Hall on Thursday morning.

In a news release on Wednesday, the police said they were called to Dupont Station at 6:11 a.m. for a report of a stabbing.

Police say a TTC employee, who was on duty, was travelling south on a Line 1 subway train when a man on the train was being disruptive. The employee asked the manto stop.

"The man became aggressive, attacked, and stabbed the TTC employee," police alleged in the release.

Subway service was halted on a portion of Line 1 Wednesday morning after the employee, 46, suffered two stab wounds to the back.

Victim home and 'in good spirits,' TTC says

Paramedics rushed the man to a trauma centreand investigators said his injuries appeared to be non-life-threatening.

TTC CEO Rick Leary said the employee wasdischargedfromthe hospital before noon and is home"in good spirits."

"I know today's event is upsetting and it may be hard to process," Leary said in a statement posted to Twitter by TTC spokesperson Stuart Green.

"I think of the TTC as a big family and as a family we are always there for each other."

Earlier, Toronto police Duty Insp. Michael Williams told reporters that theemployee was in uniform andon his way to work at the time.

Policeare asking anyone with information to contact investigators.

Part of a 'growing assault problem'

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113, which represents TTC employees,condemned the attack and calledon the TTC and cityto do more to protect public transit workers.

"This incident depicts a disturbing trend, an unacceptable rise in assaults against transit workers throughout the pandemic," Marvin Alfred, the president of ATULocal 113,said in a news release on Wednesday.

"Along with the physical violence and threats, the mental and psychological impact assaults have on transit workers is severe," he added.

"TTC workers shouldn't be fearful on the job that they will be assaulted."