Nine people have been confirmed dead after a van jumped a curb and ploughed through pedestrians on a busy downtown Toronto street earlier today.
At least 16 others have been reported injured in the incident, police confirmed. The driver is alive and in custody but no details about the suspect's identity or motive have been released. Authorities have not confirmed whether the incident was intentional.
The incident took place around 1:30pm local time on Yonge Street. District Chief for Toronto Fire Stephen Powell told CNN the vehicle drove between half-mile and a mile. Toronto Fire Service tweeted that the incident was "horrific".
Phil Zullo, a Toronto resident, told Canadian Press he saw police arresting a man who had been driving a Ryder rental truck. Ryder Systems Inc confirmed one of their vehicles had been involved.
There were people "strewn all over the road," Mr Zullo said. "Brutal" was how he described the scene.
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