Toronto attack: SHOCK footage of desperate onlookers aiding victim as police LOCATE van
A VAN in Toronto has hit eight to ten pedestrians, it has been reported, as a video shows onlookers aiding at least one of the victims and appearing to point out the direction the van took after the attack to a police car.
Toronto Police confirmed nine people have died and 16 people have been injured after a white van hit pedestrians in Toronto.
A video shows pedestrians aiding at least one of the victims and pointing the directions of the van to a passing police car.
The collision occurred at a busy intersection. The van fled the scene after the incident, at the intersection of Yonge Street and Finch Avenue, broadcaster CBC reports.
The incident happened at 13:30 local time (18:30 GMT) on Monday.
Toronto police say the driver of the van is in custody but they gave no details on age, gender or a possible motive.
SKY
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a brief statement Monday afternoon in response to the incident.
“We’re just learning about the situation in Toronto now. Our hearts go out to anyone affected,” he said.
“Obviously we’re going to have more to learn and more to say in the coming hours.”
A witness who was driving southbound at the time told local media the van was travelling at high speed on the sidewalk.
He said: “He started going down on the sidewalk and crumbling down people one by one."
The witness 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.”
Toronto paramedics are advising people to stay out of the area of Yonge Street near Finch and Sheppard Avenue.
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".
Sunnybrook Hospital, which received at least seven patients from the scene of the incident, issued the following statement: "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.
"Sunnybrook’s Emergency Department has been locked down as an added precaution and access to the Bayview Campus is being controlled.
"Sunnybrook has activated its Hospital Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) and is meeting currently to ensure beds are available for the injured."
More details to follow...