The attack on a woman in the dormitory room of the University of Manitoba made students nervous.

The student, who CTV News did not identify, said he was awakened by an explosion in his dorm room on Dafoe Road around 4:30 a.m. Friday. He said an unidentified man entered his room and began attacking him. He fought back and escaped by banging on doors in the hallway. When no one came out, he pulled the fire alarm.

Freshman Kaitlyn Podolchuk said the news of the attack was “very scary and disturbing.”

“It was truly terrifying how easily they could get into someone’s room,” he said.

Podolchuk lives in the building where the incident occurred. He said he heard the fire alarm going off but didn’t know why. He didn’t hear about the attack until hours later.

“It just makes you wonder about the level of security in the building.”

Since Friday’s incident, the U of M said it has increased campus security.

“Effective immediately, we have added 24/7 security to the lobby of each residence hall on a 24-hour basis,” said Naomi Andrew, the university’s vice president for administration.

The new measures come in addition to other measures already in place that led to the attack.

“It was a forced entry,” Andrew said of the attack. “So, forced entry. We have patrols going around campus, but we literally had no one to secure these doors.”

Prime Minister Wab Kinew said his government was aware of the incident and was in contact with the university administration.

“We’re looking at, will this be good enough? Or is there more to be done here?” Kinew told reporters on Monday.

To help alleviate security concerns, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) said it is considering expanding the self-defense classes it offers.

“Given that this is now a student’s reality, we don’t know when this could happen again,” said UMSU president Divya Sharma.

Podolchuk said he hopes this doesn’t happen again and is taking precautions to prevent it.

“Something like this should never happen again,” he said. “We must be ready for anything at any time”

Late Friday night, Winnipeg police arrested a suspect.

Garry Edwards Jr., 46, was charged with three counts of breaking and entering with intent, sexual assault, robbery and overcoming resistance by attempting to strangle another person.

None of the charges have been tested in court.

Edwards is a convicted sex offender. He was released from prison in November 2023 after serving a 12-year prison sentence for randomly attacking two women on the same day in April 2012.

He was detained.