Toronto police confirmed ten people were killed and 15 injured when a white van mounted a curb in the north of the city on Monday. The local Sunnybrook hospital said several of the injured were in critical condition.
The driver fled the scene but police managed to track down the vehicle and arrest the suspect, who they have identified.
What we know so far
• A white van rammed into pedestrians at about 13.30 local time (19.30 UTC) some 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of the center of Toronto.
• The incident took place starting at the corner of North America's longest street, Yonge Street, and Finch Avenue East in Canada's largest city.
• The van drove at speed for about a kilometer before it stopped.
• Police confirmed ten people were dead with another 15 injured
• Police chief Mark Saunders identified the suspected driver as 25-year-old Alek Minassian from the town of Richmond Hill, on the outskirts of Toronto. Police said he was not previously known to them.
Incident 'looked deliberate'
• While saying it was still early to discuss motive, Saunders added that the driver's actions "looked deliberate."
• Officials did not immediately say if the vehicle rampage was an act of terrorism but Saunders told reporters they were investigating all possibilities.
• Police have closed off the area in the vicinity of the incident.
• Canada's public safety minister Ralph Goodale said that available information indicated that there was "no national security connection."
Police look for eyewitnesses
An eyewitness, Nick Sanka, told local broadcaster Global News: "One person was hit at the corner of Yonge and Finch, two at the next corner and three at the corner next to me were run over," he said. "He was definitely speeding, wasn't swerving just went straight through," he added.
Another eyewitness Alex Shaker told the CTV News Channel: "He started going down on the sidewalk and crumbling down people one by one."
Canadian news outlet Toronto Star published a video which showed local police apparently arresting a man after the Monday incident. The man, believed to be the suspect, says "Shoot me in the head" while confronting police officers.
Ryder System Inc, a well-known truck rental company, confirmed one of its vehicles was involved in the incident.
'Hearts go out'
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a brief statement, saying he was "just learning about the situation in Toronto now. Our hearts go out to anyone affected. Obviously we're going to have more to learn and more to say in the coming hours."
Kathleen Wynne, the premier of Ontario, said provincial, federal and Toronto city police were working together to investigate what happened. Speaking to reporters at around 15:50 local time, Wynne said no motive has been determined yet. "I think we are all unsettled and disturbed by a situation like this. I think it's impossible not to be. It's frightening," she said.