Robbery victim's backpack protected him from machete attack: Winnipeg police

A 28-year-old man avoided being seriously injured after his backpack blocked a swing from a machete during an attempted robbery Friday night, Winnipeg police say.

Officers were called to the 200 block of Roseberry Street, between Portage and Ness avenues in the King Edward neighbourhood, around 11:45 p.m. with a report of the robbery. 

The man told police that as he was walking in the area, a person he didn't know approached him with a machete and demanded his property. 

Police said the victim began running and the would-be robber chased after him, swinging the machete at the man's back. The victim was protected by the backpack he was wearing at the time, police said.

The man ran to safety and contacted police. Officers in the area, who had a description of the suspect in the attack, found the 16-year-old nearby, with the concealed machete on him.

The teen was arrested and has been charged with robbery, possession of a weapon and two counts of failing to comply with the conditions of a release order.