Canadian restaurant blast hurts 15 patrons

Police stand outside the Bombay Bhel restaurant in Mississauga, Canada Friday May 25, 2018. Canadian police say an explosion set off deliberately in a restaurant has wounded a number of people. (Doug Ives/The Canadian Press via AP)
Police stand outside the Bombay Bhel restaurant in Mississauga, Canada Friday May 25, 2018. Canadian police say an explosion set off deliberately in a restaurant has wounded a number of people. (Doug Ives/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO -- Investigators were seeking two people Friday after an explosion caused by a homemade bomb ripped through an Indian restaurant at a mall in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga, wounding 15 people, Canadian police said.

Police said two people with their faces covered entered the Bombay Bhel restaurant late Thursday, dropped the improvised explosive device and fled. Peel Regional Sgt. Matt Bertram said an object resembling a pail or paint can was carried by one of the suspects into the crowded restaurant.

"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 regional Police Chief Jennifer Evans.

"Every police resource is being used right now to locate the people responsible for this horrendous act."

Peel police said Friday that all the injured were released from the hospital. Officials initially said three Indian-Canadians suffered critical injuries and were being treated while the remaining 12 victims suffered what Evans described as minor and superficial injuries. The ages of the injured range from 23 to 69. Children under the age of 10 were present but were not hurt.

The explosion happened just after 10:30 p.m. Thursday, and the plaza where the restaurant is located was still sealed off Friday.

"Nothing was said by these individuals," Bertram said. "It appears they just went in, dropped off this device and took off right away."

Police asked for the public's help and released a photo of the attackers, both with dark hoodies pulled over their heads and their faces covered.

Peel regional police described the first person as in his mid-20s with a stocky build, wearing dark bluejeans and a baseball cap with a light gray bill. The second person was described as a little shorter with a thin build, wearing faded bluejeans, a gray T-shirt and dark-colored skate shoes.

Rafael Conceicao, a student from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was near the restaurant when the explosion occurred. He said there was a child's birthday party in the restaurant at the time.

"Glass was broken in the street ... Everything was destroyed. Lots of blood in the floor. Many people were screaming. They were trying to run out from the restaurant," he said.

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie 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.

A Section on 05/26/2018

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