http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/p ... -1.46315649 dead, 16 injured after van strikes pedestrians 'one after one' in north Toronto
Pedestrians hit near Yonge Street and Finch Avenue shortly before 1:30 p.m.
CBC News · Posted: Apr 23, 2018 1:38 PM ET | Last Updated: 27 minutes ago
Nine people are dead and 16 others are injured after a van struck a number of pedestrians Monday in the Yonge Street and Finch Avenue area of North York in Toronto.
One suspect is in custody.
Toronto police Deputy Chief Peter Yuen told reporters police have mobilized all available resources and that officers expect to be at the scene for a number of days to come.
"This is going to be a long investigation," Yuen said. There were numerous witnesses and surveillance cameras in the area, he said.
The Toronto Transit Commission, meanwhile, has suspended Line 1 subway service between Sheppard and Finch stations and has said no shuttle service will be available.
Police were called to the Yonge and Finch area for a report of a crash around 1:30 p.m. after a van mounted the curb and hit pedestrians on the sidewalk before being stopped by police.
"There were a lot of pedestrians out enjoying, a lot of witnesses out enjoying the sunny afternoon," Yuen said. Police are establishing two hotlines — one for victims and their families, and the other for witnesses to call in information related
to the incident.
A witness said separately that he had seen at least four bodies lying covered on the ground and that the people hit included a man who was crossing the street and others on the sidewalk.
In a tweet, Sunnybrook Hospital said 10 victims were transported to its trauma centre. Two of those are among the dead, while five are in critical condition, two are in serious condition and one is in fair condition. The hospital's emergency department has been locked down as a precaution, it said.
In a statement, Ryder, the company from which the van was rented, said it was co-operating fully with authorities.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said he cannot confirm whether the incident is being treated as a terror attack.
"There is no information available to me at the present time that would indicate a change in the risk level," Goodale told reporters in Toronto, where he is attending the G7 foreign and security ministers meeting.
Meanwhile, Mayor John Tory said his office was being updated by Toronto Fire Service, Toronto Paramedic Services, the TTC and the acting city manager.
"My thoughts are with those affected by this incident and the frontline responders who are working to help those injured. I have offered any and all assistance that the city can provide to police to help this investigation."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed condolences as he was heading into question period in Ottawa. He said he was just learning of the incident. "Our hearts go out to everyone affected."
Trudeau said he would have more to say in the coming hours.
Amir Bahmeyeh, a student, was in the area at the time the pedestrians were struck.
"I saw the crazy van, like a rental van, hitting the people … one after one," he said. "I'm sure it was like a terrorist attack because he drove really fast, like crazy.
"I almost had a heart attack. When I came here people told me it was a safe country and that's why I stayed here," said the student, who said he'd come from Iran.
"Now, I saw the accident, maybe I go back my country," he said.
Not confirmed yet but apparently the suspect was known to police and it was likely a terrorist attack; it was definitely no accident. Also kudos to the police for managing to take the suspect alive.
I will update later as more information comes out. I'm sticking to Canadian media as it is generally less speculative and sensational than our American counterparts.
My thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families.
