Montreal police are searching for a homeless man they allege fatally stabbed a bicyclist, in an apparent random act of violence.

The 48-year-old victim was riding his bicycle on Wednesday when he stopped at an intersection, just one block away from a police station.

Police spokesperson Benoit Couture said Joseph Roy Martin, 31, allegedly approached the bicyclist and stabbed him at least once in the chest.

The victim died from his injuries as an ambulance crew rushed him to hospital. Police believe he had no connection to Martin and the attack was random.

"He was an innocent victim, at the wrong place at the wrong time," Couture told CTV Montreal.

Investigators described Martin as aboriginal, with black hair and brown eyes, standing five-foot-nine and weighing 210 pounds. He was last seen wearing khaki pants, a dark pullover and hat.

Martin is believed to be from Nova Scotia.

Montreal police are warning that the suspect could be dangerous, and urge anyone who sees Martin to immediately call 911.

Before the suspect allegedly attacked the bicyclist, he was also involved in a fight with a woman.

"He did it Monday night, he kicked me, and then Wednesday he came back and that's when he pulled the knife out on me," said Celine, who did not give her last name.

Celine and others who know Martin claimed he has a history of violence.

"It's not just me, there's other people he beat in the past, and recently and the same day," said Celine.

Residents in the area said Martin scared away other homeless people from the parks that he frequented, and had to stay away from other areas where he apparently caused trouble.

"He punched out an elderly man at a water park and gave him a black eye, so he told me he was staying away from there," said one homeless person.

With a report by CTV Montreal's Stephane Giroux