Canadian police identify suspect in pedestrian attack

Toronto police have identified the driver of the car that plowed into pedestrians as Alek Minassian. Police say at least 10 people were killed and 16 injured in the attack. Canadian police are investigating the motive for the attack.

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said the Toronto attacker, Alec Minassian, intentionally drove his car into pedestrians. He was arrested by police after the attack. Minassian is 25 years old and lived in north Toronto.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has said the Toronto incident does not pose a threat to Canada's national security. He said the act was an individual act. Canadian authorities have said Alek Minassian's actions were intentional, but have not said whether the act was motivated by terrorism.

The incident occurred on the same day that foreign ministers from the G7 industrialized nations were meeting in Toronto to prepare for a summit of their leaders. The incident occurred 30 kilometers from the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who was attending the summit, described the Toronto attack as a “barbaric crime.”

The investigation into Minassian's motive for attacking pedestrians is still ongoing. In the past year or two, driving into crowds has become a common method of terrorism, claiming many lives in various countries.

How the event happened

Alek Minasyan drove his car into pedestrians on busy Yang Street near the intersection with Finge Avenue at 1:26 a.m. on Monday (April 23). The car was traveling at speeds of between 60 and 70 kilometers per hour and ran over pedestrians for a distance of one and a half kilometers. Ten people were killed and 16 were injured, five of whom are in critical condition.