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A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 18 June 2019

Police: 4 shot, 3 arrested at Raptors rally in Toronto

By ROB GILLIES police for their quick re-
IAN HARRISON sponse and said he was an-
Associated Press gered by the shooting.
TORONTO (AP) — Gunfire “It is disappointing and I’m
broke out and a stampede sure a source of anger for
ensued as fans celebrated more than just me that any-
at a rally Monday for the one would carry a gun and
NBA champion Raptors, discharge it at what was
leaving four people shot otherwise a joyous celebra-
and thousands fleeing less tion,” Tory said in a state-
than a block from where ment. “I hope those found
the players and Cana- responsible will be held to
dian Prime Minister Justin account to the full extent
Trudeau sat on stage. that the law permits. I want
Three people were ar- to commend and thank
rested and two guns were the millions of other people
recovered, Toronto police who happily and peaceful-
said, and investigators did ly celebrated our beloved
not discuss a possible mo- Toronto Raptors.”
tive for the attack. Tory previously urged ev-
Droves of Raptors fans ran ery city resident to come
from the shooting in a stam- celebrate the Raptors’ first
pede from the City Hall Toronto Police secure the scene after a shots were fired during the Toronto Raptors NBA basketball championship and de-
square, which was packed championship parade in Toronto, Monday, June 17, 2019. clared Monday as “We The
with tens of thousands of Associated Press North Day,” after the fran-
people. Earlier Monday, was wounded before eryone stays calm,” said “You couldn’t see the chise’s slogan.
well over a million fans people started scrambling. the host, sportscaster Matt shooter but it was that kind “Toronto, more than a
packed downtown Toronto “We just saw the girl drop to Devlin. “This is serious. Ev- of chaos where you’re just million of us flooded the
for a parade for the Rap- the floor and the guy run- eryone stay calm ... There is expecting to see some- streets today to celebrate
tors, raising concerns about ning off,” the 29-year-old an emergency being dealt body coming around the our Raptors,” city council-
safety and overcrowding said. “All I heard was, ‘bop with.” corner. It was that kind of man Joe Cressy tweeted.
as the city celebrated its bop bop.’ Those on stage remained vibe,” D’Souza said. “People of all every age,
first major sports title in more Asked if it was a targeted in place and speeches re- Another fan said the stam- every race, every religion
than a quarter-century. shooting or terrorism-relat- sumed shortly after. pede was scary. — our City. As awful as the
Police Chief Mark Saunders ed, police spokeswoman Mike Mudidi said he was “When you see a bunch of shooting was and terrify-
said four people suffered Allison Sparkes said the in- enjoying the celebration people coming at you, you ing for many in the crowd
gunshot wounds but said vestigation was ongoing. when he heard screams don’t know what to do, afterwards, don’t let it take
none of the injuries were During a speech from one behind him that someone whether to run or not. You away from our moment.”
life-threatening. Others suf- of the team owners, the had pulled out a gun. He don’t want to get stamped- Some 1.5 million fans with-
fered minor injuries as they host of the rally interrupted said he froze as people ed over,” Sam Sunday said. stood packed conditions to
tried to get away from the the proceedings to alert started running in all direc- There were at least four attend the parade. Nicolas
shooting, said Saunders, the crowd to an emergen- tions. abandoned strollers in the Caramanna, 21, said the
who asked for witnesses cy and asked for calm. Ca- “I just grabbed my buddies’ square, indicating parents crowd started to get rowdy
and people who might nadian Prime Minister Justin hands and ran,” he said. may have grabbed their shortly after he arrived at 9
have video to come for- Trudeau, Toronto Mayor Raptors fan Phil D’Souza children and run. Shoes, a.m.
ward and help investiga- John Tory, NBA Finals MVP said the violence left a clothing and bags were left Many others chose to miss
tors. Kawhi Leonard and other bad taste in his mouth, and behind. An entire nearby school or work. Cypher Sa-
Andrew Singh said he heard players were among those he questioned whether intersection was cordoned banal, 15, said his mom let
what appeared to be gun- on stage at the time. he would attend a similar off with police tape. him skip class to attend the
shots and that a woman “I want to make sure ev- event in the future. Tory, the mayor, thanked celebration. q

British air force jets in Estonia intercept Russian jets

Associated Press fighter jets to intercept U.S. grad toward Estonian and
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s B-52 bombers that were Finnish airspace. The RAF
Royal Air Force said Mon- approaching the Russian escorted the aircraft for 15
day that two of its jets de- border from the Baltic and minutes before handing
ployed in Estonia have Black Seas. over responsibility to Finn-
been scrambled twice in The British Typhoon jets ish aircraft on the airspace
recent days to intercept were alerted Friday to in- boundary.
Russian aircraft. tercept a Russian Su-30 The Russian Defense Minis-
The RAF said the incidents Flanker fighter, and passed try said over the weekend
brought the number of in- a Russian military transport its Baltic Fleet assets were
tercepts of Russian planes craft as it was escorting the monitoring NATO military
to eight since taking over fighter over the Baltic Sea. drills in the Baltics.
the Baltic Air Policing mis- On Saturday, RAF crews in- Its statement Monday
sion in May. tercepted a Su-30 Flanker about the interception of
There was no comment fighter and an Ilyushin Il-76 U.S. bombers didn’t give
from Russia on the claim, Candid transport aircraft precise locations for the
In this photo taken on Saturday, June 15, 2019, a Royal Air Force but the defense ministry traveling north from the incidents or say how many
Typhoon jet, bottom, flies by a Su-30 Flanker fighter.
Associated Press said it scrambled Su-27 Russian enclave of Kalinin- planes were involved.q