One man is recovering in hospital after allegedly being tied up and beaten in a hotel.
Nanaimo RCMP are investigating to determine if it was a hate motivated attack.
Police say they were called to the scene Thursday morning just before nine o'clock.
Officers say the victim explained that he met another man at the hotel, and they went into a room together, and in the hotel room, the victim alleges he was assaulted, tied up, threatened and robbed.
The suspect is described by police as a Caucasian male, around 30 years old, with a medium build, bald head and with a goatee and moustache, and wearing a white t-shirt, dark jeans and flip flops.
Police are asking people not to approach the suspect, but to call RCMP or Crime Stoppers.