The student says they were attacked around 9:30 p.m. near the Tuscany Village shopping complex
Photo by Declan Snowden.
On Jan. 22, 2026, the Saanich Police Department (SPD) responded to a call reporting that an individual had been assaulted just before 9:30p.m. The individual had suffered significant facial injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Times Colonist reported that the victim is an international graduate student at UVic, and that the chair of the biology department, Dr. Doug Briant, had described the attack as “random” and “racially motivated” in a memo sent to faculty and students.
According to a release by SPD, the assailant is described as a caucasian male in his late 20s to early 30s, with short brown hair and no facial hair, and was wearing a brown jacket at the time of the assault.
Briant told the Martlet that the department had no statement on the incident.
On Jan. 29, 2026, UVic released a statement regarding the off-campus assault, confirming it was an international student who had been attacked.
“This is a horrific incident and our hearts are with the victim, who is currently recovering from their injuries. The university is in contact with them and offering supports,” the statement said.
“SPD has stated that there is no indication that this attack was racially motivated. Nevertheless, I want to state clearly that hatred, racism, and intolerance have no place in our community,” the statement continues.
“Our officers have spoken to the victim on multiple occasions since the incident. From those conversations, and at this point in the investigation, there is no indication that this incident was racially motivated,” SPD said in a written statement.
The Martlet also reached out to the Students of Colour Collective (SOCC) about the incident.
“SOCC stands in solidarity with the survivor and against the hate that fueled this attack.… This incident doesn’t exist in a vacuum as rising anti-immigrant rhetoric across Canada has real, dangerous consequences for international students and racialized communities,” Aafiya Bhayani, the SOCC coordinator, said in a statement.
“Political rhetoric scapegoats newcomers and international students, and racialized communities pay the price through violence like this.”
Bhayani told the Martlet that SOCC is a resource for international students facing discrimination, microaggressions, harassment, and violence, and that they can help connect anyone affected by connecting them to resources, referrals, and assistance.
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the recent assault of an international student off campus. This kind of violence has no place in our community, and my thoughts are with the student as they recover,” Abhee Senthilkumaran, UVSS director of international student relations, said in a statement to the Martlet.
“To all members of our community, I want to stress that your safety matters. If you ever witness something concerning or feel unsafe in a situation, please contact local authorities right away and make use of UVic and UVSS support services,” her statement continues.
In an update published by Times Colonist, the survivor shared details of the assault. According to the survivor, he left the Tuscany Village Thrifty Foods around 9:30 p.m., when the assailant bumped into him, subsequently pushed him into the road, and made sexually suggestive gestures.
The survivor told Times Colonist the assailant then lunged at him and attacked him, knocking him down, breaking his glasses and causing his phone and wallet to be scattered onto the sidewalk. The survivor said he fell unconscious during the attack. According to the survivor, none of his valuables were taken.
The survivor said the assailant began “mimicking an Asian accent” and used racial language, but he was unsure what the assailants’ motives were. The survivor is warning other international students to be careful, even in “safer” areas like Gordon Head.
According to the survivor, he suffered multiple head fractures, and needed orbital floor fracture surgery on his right eye. He is hopeful he will recover with full vision but still experiences dizziness and nausea due to concussion.
The survivor told Times Colonist he recovered at a UVic professors house, and that the university provided some emergency bursaries to help cover his medical expenses.
SPD is asking anyone who witnessed the assault, or was driving in the area and may have dashcam footage to call their non-emergency number, 250-475-4321, and reference file #26-1447.
