Below is a summary of what we know so far, before I close off this rolling coverage.
You can read our latest story on the incident here.
- 10 people have been killed and 15 injured after they were hit by a rental van, driven along the sidewalk in Toronto for more than 2km
- The incident began at about 1.30pm at a busy intersection in the city’s north
- The majority of victims are yet to be identified
- The driver, 25-year-old Alek Manassian, is in custody after being arrested in a dramatic confrontation with a police officer
- Police said the actions “definitely looked deliberate” but they don’t know what motivation was behind it
- Police said all lines of inquiry remain open but there is no suggestion based on current information that there is any link to national security
- Authorities have urged witnesses to contact police with any information
- The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, and praised first responders. “We are monitoring this situation closely, and will continue working with our law enforcement partners around the country to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.”
Updated
The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has issued the following statement:
It was with great sadness that I heard about the tragic and senseless attack that took place in Toronto this afternoon. On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed, and my thoughts for a fast and full recovery to those injured.
I thank the first responders at the scene who managed this extremely difficult situation with courage and professionalism. They faced danger without hesitation, and their efforts no doubt saved lives and prevented further injuries.
We should all feel safe walking in our cities and communities. We are monitoring this situation closely, and will continue working with our law enforcement partners around the country to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.
Updated
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, the Mexican president, Enrique Peña Nieto, and former Canadian PM Stephen Harper are among those who have expressed condolences to Canada and the people of Toronto.
J’exprime ma profonde solidarité au peuple canadien après la tragédie qui vient de frapper la ville de Toronto.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 23, 2018
México expresa su solidaridad y condolencias al pueblo y gobierno de Canadá, así como a los familiares de las personas que resultaron heridas o perdieron la vida hoy, en Toronto.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) April 24, 2018
Awful news out of Toronto today, I’m shocked and saddened to learn of such a senseless and hateful loss of innocent lives. My prayers are with the families of the victims and all affected by this tragedy.
— Stephen Harper (@stephenharper) April 24, 2018
On behalf of the Costa Rican people I extend our deepest condolences to Canada and its Government,for the tragic incident in Toronto this morning.Our thougts are with the families of the victims,specially those who are suffering the loss of a loved one @JustinTrudeau @CanadianPM
— Luis Guillermo Solís (@luisguillermosr) April 24, 2018
Our prayers are with the victims of today's horrific van attack in Toronto. We extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones.
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 23, 2018
Updated
The Toronto Star has published an editorial, praising the city’s residents and authorities for their responses to the tragic event.
Police “stuck to the facts”, and the public “by and large also refused to indulge in finger-pointing or blame-throwing”, it said. There was no over-reaction, in particular by the arresting officer.
This confrontation could easily have ended in yet another death, and it must have taken remarkable restraint to avoid shooting in the heat of such a charged moment. The driver is alive to face justice and, just as important for the public good, to give his own explanation of why he inflicted this horror.
All this speaks very well of the city we call home. We cannot prevent all violence in our midst; there will always be individuals who lash out for personal or political reasons and take innocent life. But we can do something about how we react collectively when we come under attack.
It would have been all too easy for things to have turned very ugly very quickly in the wake of Monday’s attack.
Updated
Police have set up a web portal for witnesses to share videos and photos of the incident.
If you have video or photos from today's van attack, @TorontoPolice have created a web portal where you can upload them: https://t.co/qAKbHsBOoT
— Wendy Gillis (@wendygillis) April 24, 2018
A quick summary of that press conference, where we heard from the police chief, Mark Saunders, the premier, Kathleen Wynne, the minister of public safety, Ralph Goodale, and the Toronto mayor, John Tory.
The death toll has now risen to 10, with 15 people injured after the man - now named as 25-year-old Alek Menassian – drove off the road and into a number of pedestrians over the course of several kilometres at about 1.30pm.
The majority of victims have not yet been identified.
While the actions “definitely look deliberate” police have not identified any motivation. There is nothing to link the act with any national security situation and the city is safe, they said.
Police are calling for witnesses to contact them using a dedicated hotline or web portal.
Updated
Some further points from the press conference:
- Authorities are assessing Canada’s threat level, but the city is safe, says Saunders.
- The majority of victims have not yet been identified.
- Toronto police are leading the homicide investigations, but they are working in concert with federal and provincial counterparts.
Updated
Saunders is being asked about a range of possible motivations but will not be drawn on any of them. The investigation is ongoing.
Charges have not been laid yet.
Saunders praises the training of Canadian police to use as little force as possible, when asked about the peaceful arrest of Alek Minassian.
Updated
Driver not known to police
Reporters are asking further questions about national security.
The police chief, Mark Saunders, says the minister didn’t dismiss the possibility it was terrorism-related, but that the information currently didn’t find any connection.
“We are looking very strongly to what the exact motivation was for this particular incident to take place.”
“The actions definitely look deliberate,” he later says.
The driver, Alek Minassian, is not known to police.
Updated
Incident not national security related
There is no current suggestion of a national security risk because of this incident, says Ralph Goodale, Canada’s minister of public safety and emergency preparedness.
“On the basis of all available information at the present time there would appear to be no national security connection to this particular incident,” Goodale says.
“The events ... are horrendous but they do not appear to be connected in any way to national security based on the information available at this time.”
Updated
Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario, praises the first responders for a professional and comprehensive response.
She says the outreach from across the country has been “outstanding”.
“People across the country are thinking about what’s happening here in Toronto, thinking about the families and the victims.”
Updated
Toronto mayor, John Tory, says he hopes for people who live in Toronto “this tragic incident is not representative of how we live or who we are or anything to do with how we live in this city on a day-to-day basis”.
He hoped people would “carry on – with heavy hearts – but carry on”. Tory calls for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the police.
Police a short time ago sent out the following message:
Anyone with information is asked to please call the investigative hotline at 416-808-8750. A web portal has been opened for anyone who is able to submit photos and/or videos of the incident, please click here.
Police are also asking the public to please refrain from calling 911 unless they are in a life or death emergency.
Updated
10 people killed, driver named
The death toll has risen to 10, according to the police chief, Mark Saunders.
Police have named the driver as 25-year-old Alek Minassian from Richmond Hill, Ontario. Social media identifies him as a college student.
Police have cordoned off an area stretching close to a kilometre, for the investigation, which involves several levels of law enforcement.
“It’s going to take some time to process the scene,” Saunders said.
Updated
More than six hours after the incident bodies remain in the street, covered in bright orange tarps, reports Leyland Cecco from the scene.
An impromptu memorial had already been set up less than 50m from one of the victims.
“It could’ve been anybody,” said Konstantin Goulich, who has lived across the street for 15 years. “We live in a unified society. And people’s support and outpouring of grief is evidence of this.”
Updated
A short time ago a playoffs game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins opened with tributes to victims of the fatal incident.
The Maple Leafs honoured everyone affected by today's tragedy with a moment of silence before Game 6 against the Bruins. pic.twitter.com/36mMlhsW0F
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 23, 2018
Emotional rendition of “Oh Canada” at tonight’s Maple Leafs game given today’s tragedy in Toronto (📷 by @paulzarnett) pic.twitter.com/RlSPVL6onK
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 23, 2018
Updated
CBC has spoken to a number of eyewitnesses.
“I just came out from a subway station and I saw a crazy van, a rental van, hitting people one after one,” said one man. “I saw an old man going up and going down. The people were screaming and going around. He drove really fast.”
Taxi driver Nana Agyeman-Badu described one woman being hit at a bus stop. He and another driver stopped. “The two of us were trying to help her, telling her she’s going to be OK.”
Updated
Citing government officials, CBC says the driver is not associated with any known terrorist organisations. We are working to confirm that.
A press conference will be held in about 15 minutes.
Updated
Toronto councillor John Filion represents the Willowdale neighbourhood in north Toronto, where the attack occurred. He spoke to CBC a littler earlier.
“It’s just a shock that it could happen in our city, that it could happen anywhere in our city,” he said.
“The area I represent is, you know, very harmonious. We have people from all over the world and everybody gets along very well. You know, you rarely even encounter an angry person in the area.
“It’s just, you know, incomprehensible.”
Updated
Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, spoke to media a little earlier.
“I’ve been briefed by the provincial security advisor and what I want people to know is that all levels of government and police services are working together. The OPP, the RCMP, and the Toronto police service, all levels are working together and the information is flowing among those organisations,” she said.
“There is no gap there and I will continue to get updates.”
The Toronto Sign has been dimmed and the official flags at Toronto City Hall, all Civic Centres and Metro Hall will be flown at half-mast until further notice to mark the tragic events that took place today. pic.twitter.com/4fNVQbEiJb
— City of Toronto (@TorontoComms) April 23, 2018
Updated
Updated
Ten of the victims were taken to Sunnybrook hospital’s trauma centre.
A spokesman gave a press conference a little earlier. He said two injured pedestrians who were taken to the hospital had succumbed to their injuries.
Another five were in a critical condition, and three were in a serious condition. One of those in a serious condition was previously in a fair condition, but deteriorated.
All of the victims were adults, the spokesman said.
UPDATE:
— Sunnybrook Hospital (@Sunnybrook) April 23, 2018
We have received a total of 10 victims from the incident today at Yonge & Finch:
- unfortunately, 2 patients arrived vital signs absent and were pronounced dead upon arrival
- 5 in critical condition
- 2 in serious condition
- 1 in fair condition: https://t.co/4dG1Pk5Unf
Authorities were still in the process of identifying the two deceased, he said.
Following an incident involving a van striking a number of pedestrians in the Yonge and Finch area, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre has received seven patients from the scene in its Trauma Centre: https://t.co/4dG1Pk5Unf
— Sunnybrook Hospital (@Sunnybrook) April 23, 2018
We’re expecting to hear another update from Toronto police tonight, local time. There is still no official word on the driver’s motivation.
The Toronto police remain the lead agency investigating the attack, but support has been provided by Canada’s Mounted Police Force, the agency usually responsible for national security matters.
Toronto’s mayor, John Tory, has issued a statement on what he described as a “cowardly and incomprehensible attack”.
“Our city denounces this and all acts of violence and we are united in our grief over this devastating loss of life,” he said.
“I encourage the people of Toronto to come together in support of those affected by this tragedy and those working to keep us safe – in particular to help the police by providing information.
“I ask everyone to await the result of thee police investigation and avoid speculation. Instead we should show the world that Toronto is a city that will not be cowed, will not be afraid, and will not waver in the values we hold dear.”
My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of the nine people killed and 16 injured in today’s cowardly and incomprehensible attack in Toronto. Please read my updated statement here. pic.twitter.com/ihJsVzHsjW
— John Tory (@JohnTory) April 23, 2018
Updated
Vision posted to Twitter shows the stationary van, with extensive front-end damage.
The driver confronts police with what appears to be a gun. Police can be heard telling the man to get down on the ground.
“Kill me,” he tells officers.
An officer responds: “No, get on the ground.”
The man says: “I have a gun in my pocket.”
Police warn him if he doesn’t not get on the ground, they will shoot.
The suspect is then arrested without firing any shots.
This @TPSOperations officer shows remarkable calm. Anyone know who this is? pic.twitter.com/FCw20FOaKH
— Diana Swain (@swaindiana) April 23, 2018
Updated
Ralph Goodale, Canada’s public safety minister, has described the incident as a “horrific attack” and thanked brave local police officers for their response.
Grateful for the brave and professional response of @TorontoPolice and other first responders to the horrific attack at Yonge and Finch. Canadians are appalled at what happened. The victims and their families have our deepest condolences.
— Ralph Goodale (@RalphGoodale) April 23, 2018
This map shows the path of the van, according to current information. The first reported collision was near the corner of Finch Avenue and Yonge Street. The van continued along the sidewalk for almost 3km along Yonge Street.
Updated
Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has made a statement about the Toronto incident on Twitter, thanking first responders and expressing his sympathies to those affected.
Our thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible incident at Yonge and Finch in Toronto. Thank you to the first responders working at the scene – we're monitoring the situation closely.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 23, 2018
Updated
Witnesses have shared horrific first-person accounts of the scene near the Toronto intersection, on the corner of Yonge Street and Finch Avenue East.
Christian Ali, who drove down Yonge Street shortly afterwards, said he saw three people lying in the street. “There was a lot of blood flowing,” he told the Guardian. “Everyone was in sheer shock.”
The Globe and Mail spoke to Michele Kelman, who was walking back to work after lunch with a friend at the time. Kelman said she heard screams and turned to see the white van heading towards her down the sidewalk. She was unhurt, but could not find her friend.
“My friend was gone,” Kelman told the Globe and Mail. “I couldn’t find her body for a while. There were a few around. And there were people trying to bring her back.”
Kelman said her friend did not survive.
Mon Apr23 1:45pm police responded to van striking multiple pedestrians Yonge St & Finch St Toronto~At 4:30pm press conference Deputy Chief Peter Yuen confirmed 9 people are dead & 16 injured~Van driver arrested~POLICE ASK PUBLIC TO REFRAIN FROM CALLING 911 UNLESS EMERGENCY ^sm pic.twitter.com/ZyAJS8rQDv
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) April 23, 2018
Updated
What do we know so far?
Details about the incident are scant. But this is what we know so far:
- The van mounted the kerb at a busy intersection in the northern suburbs of Toronto on Monday afternoon, about around 1.30pm local time.
- It continued almost 3km, striking dozens of pedestrians.
- Police have so far confirmed nine people are dead, and another 16 are injured.
- The van was a rental. The driver fled from police but was detained and arrested.
- Witnesses and video posted on social media suggest the man had aimed what appeared to be a gun at police, before being detained.
- Local media are reporting the man’s identity, but law enforcement are yet to officially confirm the name.
Updated
A van has struck pedestrians in Toronto, Canada, killing nine people and injuring 16. The van appeared to mount the curb and continue down the sidewalk, mowing down pedestrians as it went.
The driver has been arrested. But questions remain about his motives, and investigators are yet to confirm the act was deliberate.
Stay with us. We’ll bring you developments as they happen.
Updated
