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| Toronto suspect named as Alek Minassian after van hits pedestrians – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | 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. | J’exprime ma profonde solidarité au peuple canadien après la tragédie qui vient de frapper la ville de Toronto. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. |
| The Toronto Star has published an editorial, praising the city’s residents and authorities for their responses to the tragic event. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | It would have been all too easy for things to have turned very ugly very quickly in the wake of Monday’s attack. |
| Police have set up a web portal for witnesses to share videos and photos of the incident. | 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | Police are calling for witnesses to contact them using a dedicated hotline or web portal. |
| Some further points from the press conference: | Some further points from the press conference: |
| Authorities are assessing Canada’s threat level, but the city is safe, says Saunders. | Authorities are assessing Canada’s threat level, but the city is safe, says Saunders. |
| The majority of victims have not yet been identified. | 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. | Toronto police are leading the homicide investigations, but they are working in concert with federal and provincial counterparts. |
| Saunders is being asked about a range of possible motivations but will not be drawn on any of them. The investigation is ongoing. | 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. | 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. | Saunders praises the training of Canadian police to use as little force as possible, when asked about the peaceful arrest of Alek Minassian. |
| Reporters are asking further questions about national security. | 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. | 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.” | “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 actions definitely look deliberate,” he later says. |
| The driver, Alek Minassian, is not known to police. | The driver, Alek Minassian, is not known to police. |
| 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. | 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. | “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.” | “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.” |
| Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario, praises the first responders for a professional and comprehensive response. | 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”. | 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.” | “People across the country are thinking about what’s happening here in Toronto, thinking about the families and the victims.” |
| 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”. | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. |
| The death toll has risen to 10, according to the police chief, Mark Saunders. | 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 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. | 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. | “It’s going to take some time to process the scene,” Saunders said. |
| More than six hours after the incident bodies remain in the street, covered in bright orange tarps, reports Leyland Cecco from the scene. | 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. | 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.” | “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.” |
| A short time ago a playoffs game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins opened with tributes to victims of the fatal incident. | 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 | 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 |
| Emotional rendition of “Oh Canada” at tonight’s Maple Leafs game given today’s tragedy in Toronto (📷 by @paulzarnett) pic.twitter.com/RlSPVL6onK | Emotional rendition of “Oh Canada” at tonight’s Maple Leafs game given today’s tragedy in Toronto (📷 by @paulzarnett) pic.twitter.com/RlSPVL6onK |
| CBC has spoken to a number of eyewitnesses. | 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.” | “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.” | 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.” |
| Citing government officials, CBC says the driver is not associated with any known terrorist organisations. We are working to confirm that. | 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. | A press conference will be held in about 15 minutes. |
| Toronto councillor John Filion represents the Willowdale neighbourhood in north Toronto, where the attack occurred. He spoke to CBC a littler earlier. | 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. | “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. | “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.” | “It’s just, you know, incomprehensible.” |
| Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, spoke to media a little earlier. | 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. | “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.” | “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 | 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 |