Nine people dead as van mounts curb in Toronto and hits pedestrians; driver arrested
At least nine people were dead and 16 injured after the driver of a van plowed into multiple pedestrians in Toronto on Monday, police said.
Officials said the driver of the white van ploughed the vehicle into the pedestrians deliberately.
"Reports were that a white van mounted the kerb, drove down the sidewalk at southbound Yonge, south of Finch, and struck eight to 10 people possibly, the numbers aren't confirmed yet," Toronto police spokesperson Gary Long told Canadian broadcaster Global News.
Though the vehicle fled the busy intersection in the north part of the Canadian city, the driver was taken into custody a few blocks away.
Authorities are yet to confirm any fatalities, eyewitnesses told local media that there were quite a few fatalities.
A witness told police that eight to 10 people were hit, according to police spokesperson Long.
Another witness said he had seen at least four bodies lying covered on the ground after the events.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just tweeted about the crash in Toronto, saying he is closely monitoring the situation.
The story will be updated.