At Least 10 Killed As Van Plows Into Crowd In Canada’s Toronto, Police Say ‘Not An Accident’

At least ten people were killed and 15 injured after a van plowed into pedestrians along a sidewalk in Toronto late night on Monday.

The driver, identified as Alek Minassian, has been taken into custody. The suspect, a 25-year-old student, was not armed at the time of arrest. Minassian, who lives in the Toronto suburb of Richmond Hill, had not been known to police previously.

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said he did not think it was an accident. He refused to rule out that the incident was an act of terrorism. Saunders said that, although the investigation is in the very early stage, the suspect’s actions “definitely looked deliberate.” However, the police has not said anything about the possible motive behind the attack. When asked if there was any evidence of a terrorist link, the police chief has said, "Based on what we have there's nothing that has it to compromise the national security at this time."

Witnesses said the driver appeared to be moving deliberately through the crowd at more than 50 kilometres per hour.

“[The driver] was definitely in control of what he was doing…he knew what he was doing,” witness who identified himself as Nick said. He said he “witnessed a few people pass away in front” of him as others screamed.

Similar attacks have occurred in Barcelona, Berlin, London and Nice, France, in recent years. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for most of these.