Van-Borne Terrorist Struck 'Every Single Thing' on Toronto Sidewalk
Police have arrested a suspect after a van mounted the curb and struck numerous pedestrians in Toronto.
Media calling suspect depicted here as “white”, eyewitnesses say Middle Eastern (see @NatashaFatah)
— ☩ Faith J Goldy ☩ ???????? (@FaithGoldy) April 23, 2018
God bless Toronto Police! https://t.co/RWJ7zxTyzu
The incident happened on Yonge Street south of Finch Avenue, according to the Toronto Police Service. Initial estimates suggest eight to 10 people were struck.
TERROR IN TORONTO (on the scene) https://t.co/YZkDCPrus8
— ☩ Faith J Goldy ☩ ???????? (@FaithGoldy) April 23, 2018
Witness Alex Shaker, who was driving southbound at the time, says the van was travelling at high speed on the sidewalk. The van was also southbound.
“He started going down on the sidewalk and crumbling down people one by one,” Shaker told CTV News Channel on Monday afternoon.
Shaker said he saw the vehicle strike someone with a stroller.
“He just destroyed so many people’s lives,” he said. “Every single thing that got in his way.”
TERROR IN TORONTO PART 2 https://t.co/xPmv35PLQl
— ☩ Faith J Goldy ☩ ???????? (@FaithGoldy) April 23, 2018
The extent of injuries is unknown and ambulances are on the scene. Photos posted online show multiple individuals on the ground.
Witness Phil Zullo, who was driving northbound, says he first noticed the commotion when he saw police taking down a male suspect.
Zullo says he continued north, where he saw “shoes and hats flown everywhere.”
Video from Yonge and Finch at Toronto pic.twitter.com/YvS8GcJ8pg
— Vince (@vce7) April 23, 2018
Video shared with CTV News shows the suspect pointing a small, dark object at police, with his back to the van. Police can be seen taking cover behind their vehicle and shouting at him to get down.
“Get down!” the officer is heard shouting.
“I have a gun in my pocket,” the suspect can be heard saying.
“Get down or you’ll be shot!” the officer says.
The camera turns away from the confrontation for approximately eight seconds, then looks back to show the suspect on the ground, face-down, with the officer cuffing him.
The #Toronto ramming suspect being taken into custody. pic.twitter.com/MpZlo4hcdm
— Breaking News (@NewsNerve) April 23, 2018
Another video recorded from a nearby building shows the moment missed in the previous video. The suspect can be seen walking out in the street with the object in his hand still pointed at the officer. After approximately five seconds he drops the weapon, throws out his arms and backs up to the curb.
The van involved in the collision was found on Poyntz Avenue off of Yonge, just south of Sheppard Avenue West. The van is marked as belonging to the rental company Ryder.
TERROR IN TORONTO — BODIES IN OUR STREETS https://t.co/s1UFn3BrGy
— ☩ Faith J Goldy ☩ ???????? (@FaithGoldy) April 23, 2018
Toronto paramedics are advising people to stay out of the area of Yonge Street near Finch and Sheppard Avenue.
Difficult to be certain from this angle but 1-2 killed under white and orange blanket on the scene of Toronto terror attack pic.twitter.com/FO2bnQxQ62
— ☩ Faith J Goldy ☩ ???????? (@FaithGoldy) April 23, 2018
Subway service has been suspended between the TTC’s Sheppard and Finch stations. No replacement shuttle services will be operating.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau briefly addressed the situation before a session in the House of Commons Monday afternoon.
“Our hearts go out to anyone affected,” Trudeau said. “We’re obviously going to have more to learn and more to say in the coming hours.”
