The suspect arrested in the stabbing of seven people at a Vancouver apartment building Thursday night has been charged with 12 counts of assault.

The suspect has been identified by police as Jerome Bonneric, 33, of Vancouver. He has been charged with:

• Four counts of aggravated assault.
• Four counts of assault with a weapon.
• Three counts of common assault.
• One count of assaulting a peace officer.

Bonneric was arrested inside the building a short time after the stabbings. Police say they believe he was visiting a friend in the building at the time of the attacks. He was not previously known to police.

Investigators are trying to determine what prompted the attacks and are investigating whether he has any history of mental health issues. Police said there doesn't appear to be any connection between him and the victims.

Worked in wholesale bakery

CBC News has learned Bonneric worked at a wholesale bakery in Port Coquitlam, B.C., from April 2011 until December 2012.

Before April 2010 he lived in Paris, France and worked in real estate. He has a bachelor's degree in business law and a master's in real estate from two different French schools.

Bonneric worked at a wholesale bakery in Port Coquitlam from April 2011 until December 2012. (Facebook)

As of Friday evening, two victims remained in hospital, one in stable condition and the other in very serious condition.

CBC News has learned two of the victims are a retired couple who live on the first floor. They opened their door to investigate a commotion in the hall and the wife was hit with a hammer, and her husband was stabbed. The husband is one of the two victims still in the hospital.

The incident took place just before 7 p.m. PT Thursday on several floors of an apartment building in the 1200 block of Barclay Street, in Vancouver's downtown West End.

Six people — three men and three women — were taken to hospital for treatment. A seventh victim and a police officer were treated at the scene. The victims range in age from their 20s to their 60s.