NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / World

Van driver ploughs into pedestrians in Toronto, nine dead

NZ Herald
23 Apr, 2018 06:49 PM10 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

16 people were also injured in the incident that happened on a busy street in north Toronto.

The suspect in Toronto tragedy where nine people were killed, was captured on video yelling at a police officer: "I have a gun in my pocket. Shoot me in the head".

The driver of a white rental van ploughed into pedestrians - including a woman pushing a stroller - in Toronto, before apparently confronting police.

Footage posted on social media from cellphones showed armed police telling the suspect to get out of vehicle.

He is heard yelling: "I have a gun in my pocket."

When the police repeat their command to step out of the van, he tells the officers: "Kill me!"

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He adds: "Shoot me in the head."

A brief clip shows a police officer walking directly towards a suspect.

An officer says "No, get down!" and "I don't care! Get down!"

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Authorities say the white van hit the crowd of pedestrians at the busy Yonge St and Finch Ave in north Toronto about 1.30pm local time (5.30am, NZT).

Police said nine people were killed and 16 injured. Toronto Police Deputy Chief Peter Yuen said: "Right right now we have nine people that are dead, 16 that are injured."

CBS identified the driver as 25-year-old Alek Minassian.

US law enforcement sources told CBS News that it appeared to be a deliberate act. Reuters, citing a US security source, reported that terrorism is the leading theory about motive.

Discover more

World

How a passenger got Tasered 10 times on a flight

23 Apr 09:07 PM
World

Behind Gaza clashes are piles of debt

23 Apr 10:20 PM
World

Trump's 2013 trip: What flight records show

23 Apr 10:49 PM
World

Toronto van attack suspect begs police: 'Shoot me'

23 Apr 11:35 PM

Former New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton told MSNBC his sources in Canada said the van driver was known to police and considered it a terrorist attack.

But Canada's minister of public safety Ralph Goodale said it was too soon to say whether it was terrorism. He told reporters that police were still investigating and that Canada had not changed its terrorism alert level. He had no information suggesting a need to do so, he added.

The vehicle immediately fled but was found several blocks away, and the driver was taken into custody, police said. Fox reported witnesses as saying the driver was waving a weapon-like object at police.

Sky News reported that Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital said seven patients from the van crash had been taken to the hospital and its emergency department was on lockdown as an "added precaution".

"We looked up and down the street and saw three or four victims on the ground, with pedestrians helping them," witness Saman Tabasinejad told the Toronto Sun. "I feel terrified, I grew up just around here."

Connie Lam lives nearby and told the Toronto Star she saw two more bodies at Mel Lastman Square and another across the street. Lam said the driver must have known to mount the southbound footpath because the northbound side had more concrete tree holders.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Toronto police confirm 9 dead, 16 injured in van incident
READ MORE: https://t.co/fOZW379eZd pic.twitter.com/75zjKb3Cww

— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) April 23, 2018

"This is a time when this community should come together... we are admired around the world for being inclusive, accepting and understanding" - a message from the Mayor of #Toronto following the van incident in the Canadian city pic.twitter.com/43u5v3A7vf

— SkyNews (@SkyNews) April 23, 2018

Witness Phil Zullo told Canadian Press he saw police arresting a man who had been driving a Ryder rental truck and saw people "strewn all over the road".

"It must have seen about five, six people being resuscitated by bystanders and by ambulance drivers," Zullo said. "It was awful. Brutal."

Taxi driver Agyeman-Badu told the Toronto Sun he had just dropped off a fare when he noticed a van driving on the footpath.

"It ran over a fire hydrant and just kept coming. I thought maybe the brakes weren't working because he kept coming," he said.

"There was an elderly lady at a bus shelter. She saw him and tried to step aside but she wasn't so lucky. He pinned her into the shelter and all the glass broke and fell on her.

"She was all cut up and unconscious when I went to help her. The van just kept going."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A driver described the horror: "He smashed into someone over there. Then I saw him go straight ahead. He's going 70-80 clicks. He's hitting people one by one. It's a nightmare, man.

"It's really bad, I can't believe it's happening. He hit every single person on the sidewalk. All I see is people crumbling one by one."

#Toronto van ramming suspect is being detained by police https://t.co/DGFIloaTuZ pic.twitter.com/h952cczXg2

— RT (@RT_com) April 23, 2018

Van driver arrested by #Toronto police #Ontario 🚓🚔 pic.twitter.com/oA6bqUOlcH

— Angel Elemiah *️⃣ (@MaximoSPQR) April 23, 2018

Suspect 'who told police he had a gun' confronted by fearless cop after Toronto smash https://t.co/9jNxH00G5k pic.twitter.com/5O3XMf9V6I

— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) April 23, 2018

One witness said: "Everybody on the streets getting hit one by one, post office box getting crumpled up on people. One person got dragged, their blood is all over Yonge and Empress [Ave]."

A man who gave his name as Ali told CNN the driver appeared to be targeting people.

"This person was intentionally doing this, he was killing everybody," the man said. "He kept going, he kept going. People were getting hit, one after another."

He said a number of the victims were older people and at one point he saw a stroller fly into the air.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Bystander Essy Taeb told Toronto's CP24 television the scene was chaotic.

"Everyone was running all over the place," Taeb said.

A Reuters witness said at least two bodies were at the site.

Witness Carol Roberts told CTV News she saw "a lot of people lying lifeless on the ground".

Cabinet ministers from the G7 countries are gathering in Toronto to discuss a range of international issues in the run-up to the G7 meeting near Quebec City in June.

#UPDATE From the sky the @CTVNews helicopter counting at least 8-bodies covered with tarps in Toronto. Witnesses at area hospital saying several people brought in with catastrophic injuries. #TorontoAttack pic.twitter.com/T6WiJpvZvI

— Peter Akman (@PeterAkman) April 23, 2018

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said officials were investigating.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We're still gathering information and as soon as we can, we'll share more information with Canadians," Trudeau told reporters about an hour after the tragedy happened.

"Our thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible incident at Yonge and Finch in Toronto. Thank you to the first responders working at the scene – we're monitoring the situation closely."

Buildings and workplaces in the area where the van struck pedestrians in Toronto were locked down, and a nearby subway station was closed and service suspended.

Yonge Street is large, divided boulevard at the point where the incident occurred, its centre meridian dotted with planter boxes and sculptures.

Many people were out on the streets enjoying one of the first sunny days of spring in Toronto. Some of the victims were struck in a public square popular with office workers on lunch breaks.

Aerial photos of the scene posted on social media showed a food truck parked just a few metres from emergency workers transferring people onto stretchers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The United States and Europe have experienced a string of deadly attacks in which vehicles were used to mow down pedestrians, including an October 31 attack in New York that killed eight.

- With AP, AAP

TWITTER UPDATES

The best thing, the absolute best thing about Toronto is its diversity. The food, the different people, the mix that makes us a global city. And the people who bleat hatred and racism can eat it.

— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) April 23, 2018

Oh Toronto. My heart goes out to all the victims of one person's despicable actions. Care for the injured, families and friends, if you can.

— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) April 23, 2018

Prime Minister of Canada @JustinTrudeau: Our hearts go out to anyone touched by the circumstances in Toronto.

MORE: https://t.co/LAe5T8KHjd #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/bKsxAhS8F2

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 23, 2018

At least nine people killed and 16 injured in Toronto after a van drives into pedestrians on a busy street, officials say https://t.co/a54udTXv4L pic.twitter.com/2C3T2JCfdi

— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) April 23, 2018

Toronto's Sunnybook hospital says total of 10 victims received from van incident. 2 patients pronounced dead on arrival. Of others, 5 people in critical condition, 2 in serious, 1 in fair.

— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) April 23, 2018

"We saw the last people get hit" - a witness describes the moment a van struck several pedestrians in #Toronto pic.twitter.com/vOqjWxk3XP

— SkyNews (@SkyNews) April 23, 2018

#UPDATE Mayor of Toronto asking all businesses and office towers in and around attack area to close and send employees home.#TorontoAttack @CTVNews @JohnTory

— Peter Akman (@PeterAkman) April 23, 2018

VIDEO: A Toronto witness describes the chaos after a van mounted a sidewalk and crashed into pedestrians at Yonge and Finch https://t.co/GHvTS1V5iT pic.twitter.com/t7YGE55swe

— The Canadian Press News (@CdnPressNews) April 23, 2018

After a van strikes pedestrians in Toronto, a law enforcement official briefed on the situation tells CNN the incident is believed to be deliberate. https://t.co/gmF5ADLuSa pic.twitter.com/790zMxq1W3

— CNN (@CNN) April 23, 2018

MORE: Ryder releases a statement after hit-and-run incident in Toronto

"We are saddened by this tragic event, and our deepest sympathies go out to those impacted." https://t.co/55THfmS0rJ pic.twitter.com/2CMBpUWMwX

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) April 23, 2018

Toronto Star is reporting 3 people were killed when van drove ran down pedestrians in Toronto. "This is not a car accident." https://t.co/pmsyYLBxTd

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) April 23, 2018

Toronto street cordoned off after van ploughs into pedestrians - video https://t.co/0K6je7tT64

— The Guardian (@guardian) April 23, 2018

WATCH: This is what it looks like at one of Toronto’s busiest intersections. Bewildered onlookers size up the aftermath of the chaos near Yonge St. & Finch Ave. pic.twitter.com/JDgBlAXYDG

— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) April 23, 2018

Retweeted CBC Toronto (@CBCToronto):

Mayor John Tory has put out a statement on the van incident. The driver is in custody. Here's what we know so far: https://t.co/Xx2f86084s pic.twitter.com/useA6QPozS

— NORM LONG (@motelonfire) April 23, 2018

Video shows possible Toronto van attack suspect arrested https://t.co/xqWzSCTHhe pic.twitter.com/izBOFVHpf5

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 23, 2018

Breaking: Local media outlets in Toronto are reporting that 5 people have died after a van rammed into pedestrians in the city.

— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) April 23, 2018

Reports: Van Hits Pedestrians in #Toronto
Several people have been reported injured.
Details are still coming in.

VIDEO: Various aerials showing emergency services providing roadside
assistance, roadblocks, damaged vehicle and injured being carried towards ambulance pic.twitter.com/BL2cQwzUB5

— The Voice of America (@VOANews) April 23, 2018

What we know about Toronto:
- Van drove up to a mile, plowing into pedestrians
- Multiple injuries
- Suspect in custody
- Witness: "It was a nightmare"

Latest >> https://t.co/qkJIcEm9AV pic.twitter.com/HK287ueubw

— Amanda Wills (@AmandaWills) April 23, 2018

A van drove onto the sidewalk in at least 2 locations in Toronto, striking 8 to 10 people before it was stopped by the police, the authorities said https://t.co/Ondw4wZfan

— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 23, 2018

Witness describes scene where van hit crowd in Toronto https://t.co/p9tqlIm2h9 pic.twitter.com/0uBAcvKjkv

— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 23, 2018

Aerial footage shows scene in Toronto after van struck numerous pedestrians; eyewitness accounts identified this as the van in the incident, CTV reports. https://t.co/V7MuBB6bCJ pic.twitter.com/hEhDX6cnrB

— ABC News (@ABC) April 23, 2018
Save

    Share this article

Latest from World

World

Why British PM's former and current homes are part of arson investigation

13 May 09:35 AM
World

Expert witness in triple-murder trial says deadly mushrooms spotted earlier

13 May 08:13 AM
World

'Besotted': Spy's infatuation led to involvement in Russian espionage

13 May 06:55 AM

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from World

Why British PM's former and current homes are part of arson investigation

Why British PM's former and current homes are part of arson investigation

13 May 09:35 AM

Police are investigating three suspicious fires at sites with links to Sir Keir Starmer.

Expert witness in triple-murder trial says deadly mushrooms spotted earlier

Expert witness in triple-murder trial says deadly mushrooms spotted earlier

13 May 08:13 AM
'Besotted': Spy's infatuation led to involvement in Russian espionage

'Besotted': Spy's infatuation led to involvement in Russian espionage

13 May 06:55 AM
What happened to MH17? UN finds Russia responsible for downing passenger plane

What happened to MH17? UN finds Russia responsible for downing passenger plane

13 May 06:00 AM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP