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Toronto shooting

Two people, a 10-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman, have died after a gunman opened fire on a busy avenue in Canada’s largest city, police say.

Another 13 people, ranging in age between 10 and 59, were injured in the attack in the Greektown district of Toronto, police chief Mark Saunders told reporters.

The 29-year-old suspect had an exchange of gunfire with police officers before being found dead nearby.

The reason for the shooting is unknown.

Police have not named the suspect, who was from Toronto, and it is unclear if he was killed by police gunfire or took his own life.

The attack happened on July 22. In a video clip shared by Canadian media, a white man wearing a dark cap and dark clothing and carrying a shoulder bag can be seen stopping on a pavement and pulling out a handgun before firing shots.

PM Justin Trudeau sent his sympathies to the victims and the city in a tweet, while Toronto Mayor John Tory condemned the “despicable” attack on “people innocently enjoying a Sunday evening”.

Image source CBC.ca

Toronto: Van Attack Kills Ten Pedestrians and Injures Other 15

Emergency services were called out just after 10PM local time. The site of the attack is a piazza with a fountain that is popular with local people and was busy at the time, the Toronto Globe and Mail writes.

A number of people were reportedly hurt in a cafe called the Demetres, while others were hit in the street.

Detective Sgt Terry Browne, who is leading the investigation into the shootings, told reporters on Monday that “some individuals have what may be described as life-changing injuries” following the attack.

According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which looks into incidents involving police which result in death, the gunman was tracked by officers to Bowden Street, a short distance from the cafe.

The gunman fired at a crowd of people waiting to cross the street, he said.

Police chief Saunders told reporters that, as yet, they “don’t know why this has happened”.

It is unclear whether the suspect was shot by police or killed himself with his gun.

A post-mortem examination is planned for July 24, according to SIU spokeswoman Monica Hudon.

Gun violence is much rarer in Canada than over the border in the US, but Toronto has seen attacks increase dramatically in recent years.

Canadian police have confirmed that one person has been killed and seven others injured in a shooting at Eaton Centre in Toronto.

Witnesses described scenes of panic after gunfire broke out in the food court of the Eaton Centre.

“A herd of people were just running toward us, screaming, running, freaking out,” said one shopper.

Police said two of the injured were in a critical condition and warned that they were still hunting the shooter.

A 13-year-old boy was among those seriously injured.

Officials said a 25-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

As crowds gathered outside, an injured man with two bullet wounds in his chest was wheeled out on a stretcher and rushed away by ambulance.

Canadian police have confirmed that one person has been killed and seven others injured in a shooting at Eaton Centre in Toronto

Canadian police have confirmed that one person has been killed and seven others injured in a shooting at Eaton Centre in Toronto

Toronto police chief Bill Blair described it as a targeted shooting in which bystanders were also hit.

“The nature of the wounds indicate this individual was targeted,” he said.

“A lot of innocent people were hurt and a lot of innocent people were put at risk.

“We will be relentless in our pursuit of the individual or individuals that were responsible. We are receiving a lot of co-operation from the people that were present in the food court.”

He added: “I believe every Torontonian is shocked and appalled by this crime.”

Although some witnesses said they saw a man with a gun, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford told reporters at the scene that it was not immediately clear if the shooter was a man or a woman.

“It’s terrible when you hear something like this,” said Rob Ford.

“My heart goes out to the families that have been affected by this terrible crime. We have to apprehend this shooter.”

Marcus Neves-Polonio, 19, who works in the shopping centre’s food court, said he saw a man pull out a gun and start firing. He saw at least two people on the ground.

Erica Solmes, manager of a McDonald’s outlet, said she heard about 15 shots before hundreds of shoppers started stampeding for the exits.

Police constable Victor Kwong said at least two people had been trampled in the rush, including a pregnant woman who subsequently went into labour.

Gun ownership in Canada has been subject to licensing since the 1970s, and gun crime has dramatically declined over the years.

The last similar incident in Toronto was in 2005, when an exchange of gunfire between rival gangs in a street near to the Eaton Centre killed a teenage girl.

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