2 males wanted after improvised explosive device blast at Mississauga restaurant injures 15

An improvised explosive device set off inside an Indian restaurant in Mississauga is responsible for a blast that injured 15 people on Thursday night, police say.

Three of those people suffered "critical blast injuries," and were rushed to a Toronto trauma centre, according to Peel paramedics.

Peel Regional Police say they are now listed in stable condition.

Police said it's too early to say if the blast in the area of Hurontario Street and Eglinton Avenue East was terror-related. Two suspects in the explosion are still on the loose.

According to police, two males with their faces covered to conceal their identity entered the Bombay Bhel restaurant, 5035 Hurontario St., dropped an IED and fled, Sgt. Matt Bertram told reporters after the explosion. Police received a call about the incident at about 10:30 p.m. ET.

An update from police is expected on Friday morning. Peel Regional Police Chief Jennifer Evans is expected to speak to reporters at the scene after 7:00 a.m.

Police are describing one suspect as male, 5'10" to 6' with a stocky build, in his mid-20s. He is believed to have been wearing dark blue jeans, a dark zip-up hoodie pulled over his head, a baseball cap with a light grey peak, with his face covered with black cloth. 

The second is a male around 5'9 to 5'10" with fair skin, a thin build, faded blue jeans, a dark hoodie pulled over his head along with a grey T-shirt and dark skate shoes.

"We have no indication to call it a hate crime or any kind of terrorism act," Bertram said.

The attackers didn't say anything, he said.

"It appears they just went in, dropped off this device, and took off right away."

Bertram said they couldn't say what the device was yet.

"Until we can get in there and analyze the material after the search warrant, we won't be able to say what it was."

Tactical teams outside restaurant

Tactical teams could be seen outside the restaurant as patients were loaded into ambulances. Const. Irina Yashnik said they were there as a part of a "multi-unit" response but would not say if there is any threat to public safety.

Yashnik could not say where in the building the blast originated or how many people were inside at the time.

The restaurant was evacuated and the plaza was expected to be sealed off for investigation until at least morning.

Within hours, police had tweeted photos of the suspects.

'It was really loud'

Joe Korstanje, of Peel Regional Paramedic Services, said three people suffered critical injuries.

"We transported three of them to trauma centres in what I would say is critical condition just from blast injuries," he said.

Rafael Concaceicao, a student from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was on the patio of a restaurant close to Bombay Bhel when he heard the explosion, and rushed to help.

Andre Larrivee, who lives in a nearby condo, says he was watching television and heard a loud explosion.

"It was really loud," he said, comparing the noise to an electric generator that had exploded at a nearby construction site recently.

Other people who were shopping in neighbouring stores — and waiting for their vehicles to be released from behind the police tape — also reported hearing a loud explosion.

Police are now looking to identify the two males and are reviewing surveillance footage.

"It's a busy plaza and we're hoping someone has seen something and may have even video of the incident, so anyone who may have any information at all is asked to contact us."

India Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said in a tweet that consular support was available.