Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 26 May 2018
Explosion at Indian restaurant in Canada wounds 15 people

By ROB GILLIES off a couple areas east of
Associated Press the restaurant where foot-
TORONTO (AP) — Investi- prints, a glove and other
gators were seeking two evidence were located.
suspects Friday after an Police believe the suspects
explosion caused by a fled the area in a car.
homemade bomb ripped Bertram also said authori-
through an Indian restau- ties couldn't say what the
rant at a mall in the Toron- motive was in the bombing
to suburb of Mississauga, or what device was used.
wounding 15 people, Ca- "Different callers called in
nadian police said. and said it was firecrackers
Police said two people with or some said gunshot sort of
their faces covered to con- noises. I don't think it was an
ceal their identity entered explosion that was rocking
the Bombay Bhel restaurant anything," he said. "Until we
late Thursday, dropped the can get in there and ana-
improvised explosive de- lyze the material after the
vice and fled. Peel Region- search warrant we won't
al Sergeant Matt Bertram be able to say what it was."
said an object resembling Andre Larrivee, who lives
a pail or paint can was car- in a nearby condo, said
ried by one of the suspects he was watching television
in his hand into the crowd- when he heard an explo-
ed restaurant where chil- sion.
dren were present. "It was really loud," he said,
"There is no indication that comparing the noise to an
this is a terrorism act. There electric generator that had
is no indication that this is exploded at a nearby con-
a hate crime at this time. struction site recently.
We haven't ruled anything "It was an extremely horrific
out as we start our investi- and sad incident that hap-
gation," said Peel Regional pened at our Hwy 10 loca-
Police Chief Jennifer Evans. tion," the restaurant said
"Every police resource is in a Facebook post. "We
being used right now to lo- want to thank you for all of
cate the people responsi- your support and well wish-
ble for this horrendous act." es, especially to the families
Peel police said Friday all that were affected. At this
the injured have been re- time, the police are under-
leased from the hospital. going a full investigation to
Officials initially said three ensure the individuals are
Indian-Canadians suffered apprehended."
critical injuries and were Vikas Swarup, India's High
being treated while the re- In this image made from CCTV footage released by Peel Regional Police, two suspects enter a Commissioner to Canada,
glass doorway of the Bombay Bhel Indian restaurant, late Thursday, May 24, 2018, in Mississauga,
maining 12 victims suffered suburb of Toronto, Canada. tweeted that India's Con-
what Evans described as Associated Press sul General in Toronto vis-
minor and superficial inju- ited the injured in the hos-
ries. The ages of the injured covered. screaming. They were try- month after a driver of a pital. The Indian consulate
range from 23 to 69. Chil- Peel regional police de- ing to run out from the res- van plowed into pedes- in Toronto tweeted it had
dren under the age of 10 scribed the first suspect taurant," he said. trians in Toronto, killing 10 opened a helpline for those
were present but were not as someone in his mid-20s Evans said there were two people and injuring 14. Au- seeking assistance follow-
hurt. with a stocky build, wear- separate family parties thorities have not disclosed ing the explosion.q
The explosion happened ing dark blue jeans and a happening at the time. a motive. But they have
just after 10:30 p.m. on baseball cap with a light Mississauga Mayor Bon- said the arrested driver,
Thursday, and the plaza gray bill. The second sus- nie Crombie said she was Alek Minassian, posted a
where the restaurant is lo- pect was described as a lit- thankful there were no fa- message on social media
cated was still sealed off on tle shorter with a thin build, talities. referencing a misogynistic
Friday. Television footage wearing faded blue jeans, "I would call it a very hei- online community before
showed an injured woman a gray T-shirt and dark-col- nous, reprehensible act the attack.
limping away from the res- ored skate shoes. committed by cowards "To have two of these things
taurant. Rafael Conceicao, a stu- who came into a restaurant happen in a short period
"Nothing was said by these dent from Sao Paulo, Bra- where people are vulner- of time is worrisome," said
individuals," Bertram said. zil, was near the restaurant able, celebrating with their Ontario Premier Kathleen
"It appears they just went when the explosion oc- families and where children Wynne, adding that such
in, dropped off this device curred. He said there was a are present," she said. events are shocking be-
and took off right away." child's birthday party inside "This is certainly not any- cause they are rare in Can-
Police asked for the public's the restaurant at the time. thing you would expect to ada.
help and released a photo "Glass was broken in the happen in Mississauga, not She said the restaurant
of the suspects, both with street ... Everything was de- my Mississauga. This is not bombing was being treat-
dark hoodies pulled over stroyed. Lots of blood in the the Mississauga I know." ed as a criminal incident.
their heads and their faces floor. Many people were The explosion comes a Bertram said police sealed