Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The plaza where the attack took place was cordoned off as paramedics helped the injured
A homemade bomb has exploded at a restaurant in Mississauga, Canada's sixth largest city, injuring 15 people.
Police said two suspects entered the Bombay Bhel restaurant in the Ontario city late on Thursday and detonated the improvised bomb.
Ambulance services said that three of the 15 people taken to hospital had "critical blast injuries".
Two male suspects fled the scene immediately after the explosion in the city, which is near Toronto.
Peel Regional Police said they had received a call about the incident at 22:32 local time (02:32 GMT).
Skip Twitter post by @PeelPoliceMedia 2 suspects attended the scene, detonated an Improvised Explosive Device within the restaurant. Several injured were taken to local hospital and 3 in critical condition were taken to a Toronto Trauma Centre. pic.twitter.com/yzCT59UVN6 — Peel Regional Police (@PeelPoliceMedia) May 25, 2018 Report
Police issued CCTV footage of the two suspects, describing them both as men around 5ft 10 in height with light or fair skin, and appealing for help identifying them.
One man was described as "stocky" and in his mid-20s, while the other was of thin build. Both wore blue jeans and dark hoodies, and had covered their faces.
The motive for the attack is unknown.
Sergeant Matt Bertram told the Associated Press the two men just "dropped off this device, and took off right away".
"We have no indication to call it a hate crime or any kind of terrorism act," he added.
Canadian broadcaster CBC reported a heavy police presence, complete with "tactical teams" - and said an officer on the scene could not say whether there was a further threat to public safety.
One eyewitness speaking to CBC said he was at a different restaurant nearby when the explosion happened. He suggested that a birthday party, possibly involving children, was taking place inside Bombay Bhel at the time of the blast.
Meanwhile, Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said she was in touch with the country's representatives in Canada following the attack on an Indian restaurant, promising "our missions will work round the clock".
Mississauga, a large city on the shore of Lake Ontario, borders the larger city of Toronto and is home to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
More than a dozen people have been injured after a homemade bomb ripped through an Indian restaurant in the Canadian city of Mississauga, near Toronto.
Police on Friday said they had launched a search for two men who had entered the Bombay Bhel restaurant late on Thursday evening with their faces covered, dropping an improvised explosive device before fleeing the scene.
“Nothing was said by these individuals,” said Matt Bertram of Peel regional police. “It appears they just went in, dropped off this device, and took off right away.”
The blast left 15 people injured, three of them critically, while the rest suffered minor or superficial injuries. On Friday afternoon police said all of the victims had been released from hospital.
Police said their focus was now on tracking down those believed to be responsible for the act.
“There is no indication that this is a terrorism act. There is no indication that this is a hate crime at this time. We haven’t ruled anything out as we start our investigation,” said Jennifer Evans, the Peel regional police chief.
Police released a photo of the suspects, showing two men with dark hoodies pulled over their heads as they entered the restaurant. One of the men appeared to be carrying something resembling a pail or a paint can.
“Every police resource is being used right now to locate the people responsible for this horrendous act,” said Evans. She added that they were in contact with police forces across the Toronto area.
Play Video 0:42 Suspects sought after Canada restaurant explosion – video
The explosion happened as two separate, private parties were taking place at the restaurant. Some children were there, although police said the victims of the explosion ranged from 23 to 69 years.
Rafael Concaceição, a student from Brazil, was on the patio of a nearby restaurant when he heard the explosion and rushed over to help.
“There was a child’s birthday party. Everything was destroyed,” he told the Associated Press. “Lots of blood in the floor. Many people were screaming. They were trying to run out from the restaurant.”
Police said the explosive device caused a “considerable amount of damage” to the restaurant and neighbours reported hearing a loud explosion. On Friday, police declined to give more details on the motive or the device that had been used, saying only that the investigation was in its early stages.
The blast left many in Mississauga – a city of 700,000 people that sits about 20 miles west of Toronto – reeling. Bonnie Crombie, the city’s mayor, said she was thankful there were no fatalities.
“I would call it a very heinous, reprehensible act committed by cowards who came into a restaurant where people are vulnerable, celebrating with their families and where children are present,” she said.
“This is certainly not anything you would expect to happen in Mississauga, not my Mississauga. This is not the Mississauga I know.”
On Twitter, Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, said his government was working closely with police and officials in Mississauga following the blast.
“We’re in solidarity with the victims of this violence, and wish a swift recovery to the injured,” he wrote.
Hours after the incident, the Indian consulate in Toronto tweeted it had opened a helpline for those seeking assistance following the blast.
Vikas Swarup, India’s high commissioner to Canada, tweeted that India’s consul general in Toronto had visited the injured in hospital.
The blast comes one month after a driver ploughed a white Ryder rental van into a lunch-hour crowd in Toronto, killing 10 people and injuring 15.
On Friday, Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s premier, described the two incidents as shocking. “To have two of these things happen in a short period of time is worrisome,” she told reporters.
(CNN) A manhunt is on in Canada after two men detonated an improvised explosive device, injuring 15 people late Thursday inside a restaurant in Mississauga, Ontario, near Toronto, police said.
"There's no indication this is a terrorist attack. There's no indication this is a hate crime," Peel Regional Police Chief Jennifer Evans said during a Friday morning news conference. "At this time, we haven't ruled anything out as we start our investigation."
2 suspects attended the scene, detonated an Improvised Explosive Device within the restaurant. Several injured were taken to local hospital and 3 in critical condition were taken to a Toronto Trauma Centre. pic.twitter.com/yzCT59UVN6 — Peel Regional Police (@PeelPoliceMedia) May 25, 2018
The suspects walked into the Bombay Bhel Indian restaurant in the city outside Toronto around 10:30 p.m. and detonated the device, police said. They then fled, police believe, in a vehicle, Evans said.
Surveillance photos show the men wearing jeans and dark-colored hoodies. One had his face covered with a black cloth, police said.
Two parties, including a birthday celebration, were going on at the restaurant at the time of the blast, Evans said.
Read More
An explosive device detonated in a crowded Indian restaurant — while two children’s birthday parties were taking place — in Mississauga Thursday evening, injuring 15 people.
READ MORE: 2 suspects wanted after IED detonated inside Mississauga restaurant, 15 injured
The two suspects, who are still at large, walked into the Bombay Bhel restaurant around 10:30 p.m. ET, detonated the explosive device and then fled. They are still at large.
Here’s what we know so far.
WATCH: 15 injured after explosion in Mississauga restaurant, police searching for 2 suspects
Who was injured?
Fifteen people were injured in the blast, ranging in age from 23 to 69.
Twelve people were treated for injuries and released from the hospital by Friday morning. Three others, a 35-year-old Brampton man, a 48-year-old Mississauga woman, and a 62-year-old Mississauga woman, were released later in the day.
**Update** to the explosion that took place in the area of Hurontario Street and Eglinton Avenue. All victims that were admitted to hospital have now been released. pic.twitter.com/0bxT7AFfN8 — Peel Regional Police (@PeelPoliceMedia) May 25, 2018
Police say about 40 people were inside the restaurant when the incident took place.
The forensics truck has just arrived at Bombay Bhel restaurant in #Mississauga where 15 people were injured after 2 suspects walked in with a homemade bomb at 10:30 last night. @PeelPoliceMedia say motive remains unclear. The chief says they’re committed to finding the suspects pic.twitter.com/6Or8Pw0g4V — Catherine McDonald (@cmcdonaldglobal) May 25, 2018
What happened?
The two suspects walked into the restaurant with their faces covered and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED). They then fled the scene and are still at large. One witness told Global News that the suspects may have used paint cans for the bomb.
The explosion caused a “considerable amount of damage,” police said, as there were two birthday parties at the time, with children under 10 in attendance.
#Mississauga: Front windows of Bombay Bhel are shattered, with debris scattered in the parking lot from an improvised explosive device that injured 15 people. Source tells me the suspects may have used paint cans. pic.twitter.com/nPcKQqRtS5 — Jeremy Cohn (@JeremyGlobalTV) May 25, 2018
Rafael Concaceicao said he was at a nearby restaurant when he heard the explosion.
“When we reached the place, there was lots of blood on the floor. Many people were hurt at the time — women, [children] and families,” he said, adding he saw many balloons and cakes inside the restaurant.
Concaceicao said he rushed over and tried to help out people before emergency crews arrived on scene. “There was a guy with glass inside his eyes. Many people were bleeding,” he said.
Where did it happen?
Bombay Bhel is a popular family restaurant in southern Ontario. The restaurant where the explosion happened is in a plaza near Hurontario Street and Eglinton Avenue in Mississauga.
There are three more locations; another in Mississauga, one in Oakville, Ont., and one more in Kitchener, Ont.
On Friday morning, the restaurant issued a statement on Facebook about the explosion.
“It was an extremely horrific and sad incident that happened at our Hwy 10 location yesterday evening. We want to thank you for all of your support and well wishes, especially to the families that were affected. At this time, the police are undergoing a full investigation to ensure the individuals are apprehended.”
Mississauga is part of the Greater Toronto Area and located more than 20 kilometres west of Toronto.
Who are the suspects?
Police have released a photo of the two men entering the restaurant.
READ MORE: What we know about suspects of the Toronto-area restaurant bombing
Investigators described the first man as being five-foot-10-inches to six-feet tall, mid-20s and having a stocky build. He was last seen wearing dark blue jeans, a dark zip-up hoodie pulled over his head, a light grey baseball hat and black cloth covering his face.
The second man is described by police as being between five-feet-nine-inches and five-feet-10-inches tall and having a thin build. He was last seen wearing faded blue jeans, a dark zip-up hoodie pulled over his head, a grey T-shirt, dark-coloured skate shoes. His face was also covered.
What is the motive?
The motive is still unclear.
On Friday, Peel Regional Police said the investigation is still in its early stages but said the incident is not currently believed to be either a hate crime or an act of terrorism.
“This is a really serious investigation,” police said “We want to take our time, make sure we’re very methodical in it. So we’re putting a lot of resources into this right now.”
Police said there was no information to suggest there was a threat to public safety, noting that they believed the blast was an isolated incident.
How to help
The Consulate General of India in Toronto has opened a helpline in view of the explosion at an Indian restaurant in Mississauga. For any assistance, pl call +1-647-668-4108. — IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) May 25, 2018
The Consulate General of India in Toronto said on Twitter that it opened a phone line for anyone who has questions about the explosion. Anyone concerned can call 647-668-4108.
READ MORE: Indian consulate opens helpline after Mississauga restaurant bombing
Anyone with information is asked to call 12 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-453-2121 ext. 1233.
Reaction to the explosion
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said the brazenness of the incident resonated with her as a mother.
READ MORE: Politicians react to IED explosion in a Mississauga restaurant
“It is a heinous, reprehensible act, committed by cowards who would come into a restaurant where people are vulnerable, celebrating with their families, where children are present,” Crombie said, visibly shaking as she spoke. “Whoever has committed this heinous act needs to answer for their crimes and be brought to justice.”
WATCH: Mississauga mayor vows to bring culprits to justice
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to Twitter Friday morning about the explosion.
“We’re in solidarity with the victims of this violence, and wish a swift recovery to the injured. We’re working closely with police and officials in Mississauga on this,” he wrote.
We're in solidarity with the victims of this violence, and wish a swift recovery to the injured. We’re working closely with police and officials in Mississauga on this. https://t.co/AQBuFZPXNY — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 25, 2018
The leaders of Ontario’s three main political parties, all in the midst of an election campaign, issued statements of sympathy and solidarity for those affected by the blast.
We are all shocked and saddened by the news out of Mississauga. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and our thanks go out to the first responders. We are monitoring the situation and I will be briefed first thing this morning. — Kathleen Wynne (@Kathleen_Wynne) May 25, 2018
“We are all shocked and saddened by the news out of Mississauga,” Premier Kathleen Wynne wrote on Twitter, adding she expected a briefing on the incident later in the day.
WATCH: Wynne, Horwath call Mississauga restaurant blast ‘shocking’, ‘troublesome’
“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and our thanks go out to the first responders.”
— With files from Reuters and the Associated Press
