Nine dead as van hits pedestrians

Nine people have been killed and 16 injured after a man drove a van into pedestrians in Toronto, police said.

The driver fled the scene of the incident, at a busy intersection in the north of the Canadian city. But he was arrested several blocks away and taken into custody. It is thought no shots were fired.

Authorities said they had not yet established a reason or motive for the incident.

Witness Alex Shaker told local TV news that the

van was moving at high speed along the pavement, striking everything in its way. He said: “People just with a stroller, with their baby, everything was flying down one by one. And he was going really fast.”

Another witness said: “I couldn’t believe what I’d seen … all these people on the streets getting hit one by one.”

Police asked the public to avoid the area, and nearby subway services were halted.

Toronto deputy police chief Peter Yuen said officers were investigating and asked for witnesses to come forward.

The incident occurred at Yonge Street and Finch Avenue at 1:30pm local time. The crime scene encompassed a 1.24 mile (2km) stretch of Yonge Street.

Pictures showed police armed with rifles and paramedics treating injured people. Toronto police spokeswoman Jenifferjit Sidhu said that the vehicle was stopped by police. No description was given of the driver.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible incident at Yonge and Finch in Toronto. Thank you to the first responders working at the scene – we’re monitoring the situation closely.”

Toronto mayor John Tory said: “There has been a very tragic incident at Yonge St. and Finch Ave. My thoughts are with those affected by this incident and the frontline responders who are working to help those injured.

“I have offered any and all assistance that the city can provide to police.”