A man died in an explosion at a Tim Hortons outlet in downtown Toronto on Sunday, police say.
Later in the afternoon, a police robot was used to remove a parcel from the store, which is on Yonge Street just north of the intersection with Bloor Street. Explosives experts then detonated the package.
The initial blast took place just after 1 p.m. EDT.
Police said the victim was not a Tim Hortons employee.
Toronto Police Service Insp. Nick Memme said the explosion occurred “in the washroom area” at the back of the shop.
Police have not confirmed reports the man was seen entering the washroom with wires or possibly explosives strapped to his body.
Police investigate ‘possible criminal’ case
Daryl Fuglerud, a spokesman with Toronto’s fire department, told reporters the man who died had burns to his body.
“It doesn’t appear that there was much of a fire at all,” Fuglerud said.
“There was a very small amount of smoke upon our arrival.”
Fuglerud said the investigation has been turned over to police because it was a “possible criminal” case.
No one else appears to have been injured in the blast.
Details were still emerging about what exactly happened.
Entire block evacuated
Police said they evacuated a one-block area after the blast was reported.
“We’re taking all precautions,” Memme said.
The investigation tied up traffic for hours at one of the city’s busiest intersections. Yonge Street – the busy north-south artery through the city – has been closed in both directions in the immediate area.
Ref:Blast at Toronto doughnut shop kills man
Just found out about it. There has been no word as to who could’ve possibly been behind it. I’m hoping it won’t be an act of a Muslim, insha’Allah.