Canada’s Van Attack That Killed Nine Happened As G-7 Countries’ Foreign Ministers Meet In Toronto, Security Level Unchanged At “Medium”
The Toronto Van attack that killed nine people, even as a gathering of G7 countries’ foreign and security ministers got underway in Toronto.
Toronto Police have arrested a male suspect in a white van that mowed down nine people and injured 16 others in the city’s downtown area. The police have not released any details about the suspect including race, nationality or probable cause for the attack.
The attack happened even as a gathering of G7 countries’ foreign and security ministers got underway in Toronto. Canada’s Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, who was at the gathering, said that Toronto Police remained the lead investigators in the van attack. Goodale added that the National Terrorism Threat Level has not changed. It is currently “Medium,” which means a violent act of terrorism could occur. “There is no information available to me at the present time that would indicate a change in the risk level,” Goodale said.
“There are obviously casualties in this incident,” Goodale added. “I cannot provide details at this stage. But I want to extend thoughts and prayers to those who have suffered.”
Asked whether this was a terrorist act, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne told reporters in Toronto: “We have no information on that at this point.”
Toronto’s G7 ministerial meet is intended to lay the groundwork for the G7 leaders’ summit in Quebec, in early June.
Video of Perpetrator’s Arrest
Video posted on social media shows the tense moments before Toronto police apprehended the suspected driver of the van that plowed through a sidewalk full of pedestrians during afternoon hours. In the video, the police are seen approaching the man, who appears to come out of the white van with an object in his hands pointed towards the officer in the street. The officer can be heard yelling, “Get down or you’ll be shot.” The white rental van with a crumpled front end can be seen nearby. The suspect, a male around 6 feet tall, then lies face down on the street.
There has been no motive provided for the incident; police have said it will be a “complex investigation” and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 24, 2018 05:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).