At least 10 dead, 15 injured after van hits pedestrians in north Toronto
- 6 years ago
Police in Toronto say at least ten people have been killed and 15 others injured after a man drove a van into pedestrians in the north of the city.
And we have just learned that one Korean is confimed to have been seriously injured.
The suspect is in custody and authorities are trying to determine his motive.
Ro Aram reports.
The incident occurred at about 1:30 Monday afternoon, local time, in the North York area at the intersection of Yonge(Young) Street and Finch Avenue.
The driver of the white rental van is said to have jumped the curb, striking a number of pedestrians.
These witnesses described the chaos that unfolded in front of them.
"He just went on the sidewalk he just started hitting everybody man. He hit every single person on the sidewalk, anybody in his way he hit, the bus stop, everything shattered.
"....And there were four bodies on the ground. Police and the ambulance hadn't arrived yet but people were trying to revive them, obviously to no avail....But by the time the police and paramedics got there, they, they tried again and didn't work and so they covered the bodies, put them in body bags and taken them away... "
The suspect, who fled the scene after the incident, was arrested after a tense standoff with police several blocks away.
He is now in custody and being investigated, but details of the probe are still scarce.
According to U.S. media he has been identified as 25-year-old Alek Minassian and is reported to have been known to Toronto authorities.
Police believe his action was deliberate and are trying to determine the motive.
The incident also occurred as foreign ministers of the G7 leading industrialized nations were holding meetings in the city center.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted from Ottawa expressing his condolensces to those affected.
Ro Aram, Arirang News.
And we have just learned that one Korean is confimed to have been seriously injured.
The suspect is in custody and authorities are trying to determine his motive.
Ro Aram reports.
The incident occurred at about 1:30 Monday afternoon, local time, in the North York area at the intersection of Yonge(Young) Street and Finch Avenue.
The driver of the white rental van is said to have jumped the curb, striking a number of pedestrians.
These witnesses described the chaos that unfolded in front of them.
"He just went on the sidewalk he just started hitting everybody man. He hit every single person on the sidewalk, anybody in his way he hit, the bus stop, everything shattered.
"....And there were four bodies on the ground. Police and the ambulance hadn't arrived yet but people were trying to revive them, obviously to no avail....But by the time the police and paramedics got there, they, they tried again and didn't work and so they covered the bodies, put them in body bags and taken them away... "
The suspect, who fled the scene after the incident, was arrested after a tense standoff with police several blocks away.
He is now in custody and being investigated, but details of the probe are still scarce.
According to U.S. media he has been identified as 25-year-old Alek Minassian and is reported to have been known to Toronto authorities.
Police believe his action was deliberate and are trying to determine the motive.
The incident also occurred as foreign ministers of the G7 leading industrialized nations were holding meetings in the city center.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted from Ottawa expressing his condolensces to those affected.
Ro Aram, Arirang News.