A white rental van ploughed into pedestrians in the North York area of Toronto. It is being reported that 9 people are dead and 16 injured.

The driver has been arrested.

9 dead, 16 injured after white van strikes pedestrians in North York | CBC News

We have noticed recently concrete barriers (Jersey Barriers) around the Rogers Centre stadium/CN Tower/Aquarium/Air Canada Centre/Maple Leaf Square and speculated that the powers that be must have had some sort of tip off. Perhaps they were just being prudent as the tourist season approaches.

Those poor people and their families

Looks like the suspect was hoping for a suicide by cop ending. Not in Canada you won't.

Not unless your name is Sammy yatim

Canada not increasing the threat level ? Why not, even if it is something other than a terror threat why the F not, it makes sense to be wrong with no further casualties and deaths dosnt it !!! FFS Canada stop being so ****ing soft.!!

If it had been in the US the cop would have killed him as soon as he raised the gun.

Based on the cops reaction in the video, I suppose the cop could tell it wasn't a gun? I cannot tell what the individual was holding, but seems if it were a gun the cop would have taken some cover.

Those folks walking down the street seem awfully calm as well.

A bit over cautious of the cops. Given what happened, he could have fired on a cop and added another fatality. RIP Toronto 9.

CBS News sources identified the suspect as Alek Minassian

Tragic, but not a great surprise. Canada has been comparatively fortunate to date. It was not a case of if, but when...takes incidents like this to make our politicians etc, wake up and smell the coffee. What a terrible waste, needless, heartfelt sympathies to all concerned. As for the cop involved can only assume, for whatever reason he did not see perpetrator as an immediate threat on facing him down. I always have believed that better to be judged by twelve than carried by six. If in doubt, take him out. Worked out well....this time.

Scum

It's a one-off incident so threat level would not change. There's a lot happens when a threat level gets upped in the way of increased security, It's not just a trivial statement or action.

Supposing for a moment that the politicians in Canada have been unaware of the ability of radical groups to corrupt feeble minded western citizens and cause them to commit atrocities, now that they're aware, what can they do about it? What, that is, that they weren't already trying to do?

That's right, I thought the same thing. When the officer reaches into the cruiser what is he doing? There's a little blackout and when the video resumes after that there is a crackling noise that makes me wonder if he deployed a taser and then it's handcuff time.

CBC News has confirmed that the man arrested after a rental van rammed a number of pedestrians near a busy intersection in Toronto is Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill. According to his LinkedIn page he's a student as Seneca College.

It's tragic, whatever the reason behind it. Those poor people and their families.

There's an Alex Minassian of Richmond Hill who says it's not him and asks the press to stop bugging his family.