Toronto Reeling as 10 People Are Killed by Van Driver
by Richard D'Ambrosio /
Canadian law enforcement officials are collecting evidence and interviewing the driver of a van that rampaged through busy downtown Toronto sidewalks Monday, leaving 10 people dead and injuring as many as 15 others in what authorities say is Canada’s worst mass killing in three decades.
Revealing some facts from their initial investigation, Canadian authorities, including Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, said they believe the suspect, 25-year-old Ontario resident Alek Minassian, was not motivated by any terrorist groups.
Minassian was arrested on the scene by Toronto police, and is scheduled to appear in court and be charged today, Tuesday. One American has been identified among the dead.
Authorities affirmed that the driver intentionally used the Ryder rental van to kill and injure pedestrians walking along a one-mile stretch of Yonge Street, a major downtown Toronto thoroughfare.
Witnesses told police the incident began at around 1:30 p.m. ET.
Yonge Street starts at Toronto’s harbor district and runs north through some of the busiest retail and commercial neighborhoods of the city. Wikipedia describes the road as “Toronto's main street, hosting parades, street performances and demonstrations.”
Similar events, either connected to terrorist groups or inspired by them, have occurred in New York, Spain and France in the last 12 months. In some cases, countries are taking measures to better protect pedestrian plazas that are highly popular with tourists.