Police are searching for an unknown man who stabbed another man in the back yesterday afternoon in an apparently random attack in Chinatown.

The victim, a man in his 30s, was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but later improved, police said.

The stabbing comes several months after police tripled their presence in the neighborhood to combat a rise in crime that grabbed headlines after a fatal shooting and daytime stabbing. A community leader said the latest stabbing is not a sign of a resurgence in crime and praised the community and police efforts to reduce crime.

About 2 p.m. yesterday, the victim was waiting for a bus near the corner of Bethel and Hotel streets, police said.

The attacker, who appeared to be about 60, stabbed the victim once in the back for no apparent reason, then fled on foot, police said. The weapon had not been recovered.

After the stabbing, the victim wanted to get on a bus and was still talking, police said.

Police described the attacker as a local male, about 6 feet tall, 200 pounds, and wearing a green short sleeve shirt.

Foot patrol officers in the neighborhood were briefed on the attack and continued to look for the suspect, police said.

Investigators have opened a second-degree attempted murder case.

Frank Lavoie, chairman of the Downtown Neighborhood Board, said the neighborhood has made improvements in reducing crime since police increased their presence.

“;Hopefully, this will be an isolated incident,”; he said. “;The community's feeling the police presence, and it has been an improvement overall.”;

Anyone with information on the stabbing should call police.