Disturbing video shows Toronto subway riders look on as bleeding man is chased down by knife-wielding maniac: 'He's stabbing him up!'

  A man in his 30s was stabbed multiple times on a Toronto subway train around 12:23 p.m. on Thursday. This brazen midday attack is the late...

 A man in his 30s was stabbed multiple times on a Toronto subway train around 12:23 p.m. on Thursday. This brazen midday attack is the latest in a spate of bloodlettings on the city's transit system in recent months.

It's unclear what precipitated the initial altercation, but following a brief exchange of blows, the suspect can be seen brandishing a blade in footage of the attack.

The victim attempts to drive the suspect back with a kick and a flurry of defensive punches, but upon catching at least one stab to the side, begins to retreat, trailing blood and yelling "help, help." 

Other passengers look on with mild concern as the bloodied man runs by with the suspect closing in behind him.

In a longer video of the incident, a woman can be heard saying, "Somebody help him! ... He's stabbing him up! ... He's killing him," as passengers belatedly stampeded away from the attempted butchery.

Another rider can be heard panicking, saying, "I can't get off the train."

Here is the graphic video of the incident:

The Toronto Police Service indicated that the train was traveling toward the city's downtown when the suspect "stabbed the victim multiple times."

Upon the train's arrival Eglinton station, the suspect fled. His victim was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Toronto police indicated that by 5:30 p.m. Thursday evening, the victim's condition had stabilized, reported Global News.

Duty Inspector Michelle Olszevski told reporters, "This was an isolated incident and it appears there was a verbal disagreement between the suspect and the victim prior to the stabbing occurring. Whether or not they are known to each other I didn’t know," reported CP24. 

Police have released an image of the suspect, who they indicated is in his mid- to late twenties, 5'10", with a thin build and a shaved head. He is wanted on suspicion of attempted murder.

The Toronto Transit Commission said in a statement, "Our thoughts are with the victim at this uncertain time. Safety of our customers and employees is paramount to all we do." 

TTC service at Eglinton station did not resume for seven hours.

The Toronto Star reported that there have been a number of stabbings and assaults on the city's transit system in recent weeks.

On June 2, a man was stabbed at Kennedy station in the city's east end. Five suspects were arrested, all between ages 12 and 15.

Earlier the same day, a man attacked another passenger without provocation, putting the victim in a "choke hold and causing injuries" on a TTC bus at Kennedy Road and Sheppard Avenue East.

On May 27, a young man was brutally stabbed at the Downsview Park subway station.

On March 26, a 22-year-old homeless man was charged with first-degree murder after allegedly fatally stabbing 16-year-old Gabriel Magalhaes in an unprovoked attack at Keele station. A day later, a man was stabbed on a TTC bus at Keele St. and Donald Avenue.

According to the Toronto Police Service, crime is up significantly this year: Assaults are up 16.8%; auto thefts, 39.1%; home invasions, 13.1%; thefts, 29.1%; and sexual violations, 12.7%. There have been 31 murders so far this year.