This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43873804

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Toronto collision: Pedestrians injured after van mounts kerb Toronto collision: Nine dead and 16 injured after van mounts pavement
(35 minutes later)
Up to 10 pedestrians have been struck by a van that witnesses said mounted the kerb in Toronto, say police. Nine people have been killed and 16 injured after a man drove a van into pedestrians in Toronto, police said.
The vehicle fled the scene after the incident at a busy intersection in the north of the Canadian city, police say. The driver fled the scene of the incident, at a busy intersection in the north of the Canadian city.
The van was located several blocks away, and the driver was taken into custody, the BBC has confirmed. He was arrested several blocks away and taken into custody. Authorities said they had not yet established a reason or motive for the incident.
Police have yet to confirm any fatalities, but witnesses told Canadian media a number of people appeared to have been killed in the incident. Toronto Deputy Chief Peter Yuen said police were investigating the driver and asked for witnesses to come forward.
Authorities have no cause or reason for the collision, the BBC's Jessica Murphy confirmed at the scene. Reza Hashemi, who owns a video shop on Yonge Street, told the BBC he heard screaming on the other side of the road.
She said there are what appear to be at least two bodies covered by orange tarp, but reports of deaths are still unconfirmed. He said the driver appeared to mount the pavement, run into people, and return to mount the pavement again.
"A lot of people didn't see the attack but were shocked something like this would happen on a busy but generally calm street," she added. The incident occurred at Yonge Street and Finch Avenue at 13:30 local time (17:30 GMT) on Monday. The crime scene encompassed a 2km (1.24 mile) stretch of Yonge Street.
Toronto's Sunnybrook hospital says it has received seven patients so far, and has locked down its emergency centre as an "added precaution". About 18 miles (30km) away, downtown, the Group of Seven foreign ministers of industrialised nations - including Canada, the US, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan - were holding meetings.
The incident happened at Yonge Street and Finch Avenue at 13:30 local time (17:30 GMT) on Monday. Pictures apparently taken at the scene showed police armed with rifles and paramedics treating injured people. One orange bag, which appeared to contain a body, was loaded on to an ambulance.
The crime scene encompassed a 2km (1.24 mile) stretch of Yonge Street in Canada's largest city.
It happened about 18 miles (30km) from the downtown area where the Group of Seven foreign ministers of industrialised nations - including Canada, US, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan - were holding meetings.
Pictures apparently taken at the scene show police armed with rifles and paramedics treating injured people.
One orange bag, which appears to contain a body, is seen being loaded on to an ambulance.
"Reports were that a white van mounted the kerb, drove down the sidewalk at southbound Yonge, south of Finch, and struck eight to 10 people possibly, the numbers aren't confirmed yet," Toronto police spokesperson Gary Long told Canadian broadcaster Global News."Reports were that a white van mounted the kerb, drove down the sidewalk at southbound Yonge, south of Finch, and struck eight to 10 people possibly, the numbers aren't confirmed yet," Toronto police spokesperson Gary Long told Canadian broadcaster Global News.
Toronto police spokeswoman Jenifferjit Sidhu told CBC News that the vehicle was stopped by police. Toronto police spokeswoman Jenifferjit Sidhu told CBC News that the vehicle was stopped by police. No description was given of the driver, including name, age or gender.
No description was given of the driver, including name, age or gender.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted from Ottawa: "Our thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible incident at Yonge and Finch in Toronto."Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted from Ottawa: "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.""Thank you to the first responders working at the scene - we're monitoring the situation closely."
Speaking in broken English, one witness told local media: "I saw there's a white truck just go to the sidewalk and so many people just are shouting, 'stop the car!' Speaking in broken English, one witness told local media: "I saw there's a white truck just go to the sidewalk and so many people just are shouting, 'stop the car!' But he just keep moving and he hit some people and three people lie down there and they didn't move at all."
"But he just keep moving and he hit some people and three people lie down there and they didn't move at all." One witness told City News that the driver, who he identified as a man, was driving on the kerb "hitting anything that comes in the way".
One witness told City News that the driver, whom he identified as a man, was driving on the kerb "hitting anything that comes in the way".
"People, fire hydrants, there's mail boxes being run over," said the unnamed man, who said he was driving behind the van during the incident."People, fire hydrants, there's mail boxes being run over," said the unnamed man, who said he was driving behind the van during the incident.
As the van continued, the man said he honked his horn to try to warn pedestrians. As the van continued, the man said he honked his horn to try to warn pedestrians. "I witnessed at least six, seven people being hit and flying in the air, like killed, on the street," he said.
"I witnessed at least six, seven people being hit and flying in the air, like killed, on the street," he said. Toronto Mayor John Tory called it "a very tragic incident". He said he had "offered any and all assistance that the city can provide to the police to help this investigation".
It looked like something from "a movie", he added. The United States and Europe have seen an increase in driving attacks in recent years. In October 2017, a man in New York drove a van down a bicycle path, killing eight people.
Toronto Mayor John Tory called it "a very tragic incident".
He added he has "offered any and all assistance that the city can provide to the police to help this investigation".
The United States and Europe have seen an increase in driving attacks in recent years.
In October 2017 a man in New York drove a van down a bicycle path, killing eight people.