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Saudi Gazette
25-04-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Police fatally shoot man at Toronto's international airport
TORONTO — Police shot and killed an armed 30-year-old man at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Thursday morning, police said. Two officers shot at the man around 07:00 local time (12:00 GMT), Ontario police's Special Investigations Unit (SIU), said in a statement. No police officers were injured, and "there is no known threat to the public", according to the SIU, which is tasked with investigating incidents involving police shootings. Authorities say that the shooting happened after they were called to a "dispute". After several minutes of de-escalation attempts, the man pulled out a gun and police opened fire. On Thursday morning, Peel Regional Police officers were investigating a "man in distress" in an SUV at Terminal 1 departures, the SIU said. Authorities said the incident happened near Terminal 1 Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said officers spent about 10 minutes speaking to the group, which included two or three people who were in a "an immense amount of de-escalation", one of the individuals "abruptly" withdrew a gun, the chief said. Officers opened fire on the man - who police have not named - was taken to hospital where he was pronounced incident temporarily sparked travel chaos at Canada's busiest confirmed there were temporary road closures around the terminal, but airport authorities told the BBC that flights "continue to operate normally".Ontario Provincial Police advised drivers and commuters to "avoid the area". Buses to the airport initially were rerouted, but Toronto's public transit authority has confirmed that normal service has Premier Doug Ford condemned the shooting."What's the world coming to? You go to the airport and there's shootings happening," he said, according to CBC Airport is 20km (12 miles) away from Toronto in the city of Mississauga. It is the country's busiest airport and sees more than 40 million passengers each is not the first time it has made headlines this February, a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis overturned at Pearson and caught fire after skidding along the runway. All 80 passengers survived. — BBC
Hamilton Spectator
24-04-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Man fatally shot by police at Toronto Pearson airport following ‘dispute' outside Terminal 1
What started as a call for a man in distress in the departures drop-off area at Toronto Pearson airport early Thursday morning ended with one person shot dead by police, their body splayed out under a yellow tarp on the curb, as the police watchdog investigated. The sudden shooting left passengers briefly stranded outside the departures area as emergency vehicles responded, blocking both the ramp and drop-off area of the airport during one of the busiest travel times. A 30-year-old man, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the airport after Peel police officers responded to a call around 7 a.m. for an ongoing 'dispute' among a group of people outside Terminal 1. A member of that group called 911, police said. Three officers arrived outside the terminal where the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said they encountered a 'man in distress' in the back seat of a grey Jeep Cherokee parked in the drop-off area. A 30-year-old man is dead after being shot by police at Toronto's Pearson airport Thursday morning. The officers attempted 'an immense amount of de-escalation,' according to Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah, when the man 'abruptly … produced a firearm at our officers.' Answering questions from reporters at the airport Thursday, the chief said the firearm was pointed at the officers. 'As a result of that, to protect themselves and the community and the passengers here at the airport, two of the officers' shot the man, Duraiappah said. SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette, in a subsequent press conference, said the early information they had was that officers attempted to de-escalate the situation for 'a few minutes' before a firearm was 'shown' to the officers. There was no information the man fired the weapon, Denette said, adding that the weapon has been collected by the SIU as part of its investigation, along with body-worn camera footage from at least one of the responding officers. Police at the scene of the fatal shooting at Pearson Thursday. Two of the three officers fired their guns at the man, who was outside the Jeep at that point, Denette said, and are now the subject of the investigation by the SIU, which handles all fatal shootings involving police. None of the officers were injured, the chief said. Both police and the SIU said the officers attempted first aid before paramedics arrived to take over life-saving efforts. In an early emergency dispatch report viewed by the Star, Peel police were told that the driver of the Jeep was 'asking the brother to leave' and that he was 'refusing.' Peel police said the initial information is what was reported to officers at the time. It has not been confirmed by the SIU investigation. A child's booster seat was visible on the ground outside the Jeep on Thursday as police continued to gather forensic evidence — some items appearing to be marked by Starbucks cups. Denette confirmed that adult members of the man's family were present at the time of the shooting and did not have information about any children being at the airport. The group was at the airport for 'the purposes of travelling,' police said. The police chief said there was no ongoing threat to public safety. Police are investigating an active incident at Toronto Pearson Airport Thursday morning. The shooting snarled traffic for departing passengers on the airport ramp for several hours during peak travel times but did not impact flights or regular airport operations. Toronto resident Chris Rhind, 35, said he was at the airport with his five-year-old son when the gunshots rang out. The father-son duo were departing on a trip to visit family in Vancouver and Whistler. It was a 'peaceful start' to the morning, he said in a text exchange with the Star, describing how they took an Uber to the airport as they've done before. When they pulled up to one of the first doors in Terminal 1 departures, there was a typical amount of traffic and security, Rhind said. The driver parked in the domestic area, they stepped out and began to collect their bags. Just as they were grabbing their bags, Rhind said he heard what sounded like between eight and 12 gunshots ring out. 'We weren't sure if it was gunfire, construction, aviation equipment or something else,' he said. The noise came from about 200 metres away. Rhind said he couldn't see anything abnormal from that distance but noticed a 'light smell of gunpowder' in the air. 'My son asked if it was fireworks going off.' The man reportedly produced a firearm, police said, before being shot. A security guard they passed on the crosswalk moments later asked what the noise was before moving other passengers inside the terminal. Through the glass, Rhind said he saw several police cruisers and an ambulance speeding to the scene. After getting his son to an area he believed would be safe, Rhind said it was as if everything returned to normal. When they dropped off their luggage, his son asked an Air Canada agent what happened. She didn't have a clue, nor did anyone at security. The pair grabbed a snack, boarded their flight to Vancouver and took off at 8 a.m. 'Thankfully my son is in good spirits,' Rhind said in a message from the plane. He only learned the noises they heard were in fact gunshots about two and a half hours later, from a post on X by Peel police. 'It was just random luck that we got out of our car where we did; if we had exited 200 metres further into the terminal, we would've been in the middle of the shooting.' Kim Jonathan said she was getting out of an Uber with her family at Terminal 1 for an Air Canada flight when she heard 'many shots' nearby, immediately followed by quiet. Once inside the terminal, it was business as usual — 'very calm inside, like any other early morning,' Jonathan said in a message. 'By the time we checked our luggage, there were many emergency vehicles on both sides of the ramps coming up to departures,' she wrote. Jonathan said she is 'very shaken' knowing how close the shooting was. 'My paramount feeling is gratitude for the safety of my family,' she wrote. 'I'll be taking a day to hug the family upon my return home.' John Fowler was being dropped off around 7 a.m. when he saw officers with their rifles drawn, he said by email. He waited in his car for about a half-hour before police let him walk into the terminal. Police are asking people to avoid the area following a police shooting at Terminal 1 Departures at Pearson Airport. Kevin McLaughlin was arriving by the UP Express at Pearson around 7:30 a.m. when he saw 'lots of cops' and traffic stopped outside Terminal 1. 'When we rolled in, it was just weird,' McLaughlin said. 'There was a lot of flashing lights … There was something going on.' Inside the terminal, McLaughlin said everything was largely normal. Officers attend the scene at Pearson airport Thursday morning. An empty yellow school bus was parked at the end of the roadway. 'Our bus was simply dropping off passengers at the airport,' a spokesperson with First Student bus company said. In videos shared to social media in what looked to be the moments after the shooting, one of the overpasses at the terminal can be seen congested with travellers' cars. By the doors of Terminal 1, dozens of emergency vehicles were stationed with their lights flashing. In another video, bystanders can be heard screaming in the background as officers exited their vehicles. Just heard Pearson T1 is now locked down. Dozens of people abandoning their Ubers (and now being turned back). Anyone know what's up? The shooting happened at one of the peak times for domestic travellers in Terminal 1, which is generally considered the busiest terminal at Pearson. In total, the airport typically handles up to 130,000 passengers daily.
The Province
24-04-2025
- The Province
Toronto Pearson: Police reveal what led to fatal shooting of 30-year-old at the airport
'We know what's happening now is having an impact on hundreds of thousands of travellers,' said Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah at the scene on Thursday Police cars are pictured at the scene of police-involved shooting at the departures area of terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport., in Mississauga, Ont., on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Photo by Arlyn McAdorey / THE CANADIAN PRESS Toronto Pearson Airport was the site of a fatal shooting on Thursday morning, after police responded to a call involving a dispute outside of Terminal 1. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The incident occurred near the departures area, where an SUV was parked. When police arrived, a security guard was already with a group of people, said Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah. Three officers tried to de-escalate the situation. 'However, abruptly, one of the individuals produced a firearm at our officers,' said Duraiappah. 'Two of the officers engaged with the individual. As a result, the subject was shot,' he said, adding that officers and paramedics tried to provide 'life-saving remedies.' The man, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene. Duraiappah said that the incident did not have to do with airport operations. 'Just to be clear that today's incident…was not an attack on critical infrastructure,' he said, although he was aware that it would be 'having an impact on hundreds of thousands of travellers.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Evidence is pictured at the scene of police-involved shooting at the departures area of terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport., in Mississauga, Ont., on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Photo by Arlyn McAdorey / THE CANADIAN PRESS Duraiappah said that the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was called. The province's police watchdog is now investigating and looking into all of the evidence, including body camera footage from officers, surveillance footage from the airport and witness accounts. It was not immediately known if the man who was shot had previously entered the airport. Duraiappah said the group was there for the purpose of travelling. He also said that the 911 call came from someone in the group. 'I can only assume that the nature of any dispute is some sort of crisis,' he said. The entire incident took place outside of the airport. In an emailed statement to National Post, SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette confirmed there had been 'a police-involved shooting.' She said that the area should be cleared up by Thursday evening. Speaking to reporters at the scene, Denette said that the man was located inside the vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, when officers arrived. But when the man pulled out a gun, police said, he was outside of the vehicle. According to preliminary reports, the man did not discharge the weapon. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Denette described the man as 'maybe agitated.' She also said that the man had been with members of his family, The Canadian Press reported, and was 'kind of in a mental distress.' It is not known whether the dispute was between the man and his family, or if he was having a personal crisis. Police continue to investigate the fatal police shooting of a man outside of Toronto Pearson Airport's Terminal 1, Thursday April 24, 2025. Photo by Peter J. Thompson / National Post No police officers were injured, according to an SIU news release. Six investigators and three forensic investigators have been assigned to the case. When asked about the officers involved, Duraiappah said they 'are being cared for as best as they can.' 'I'm not going to speak on behalf of the officers, but without a doubt, this has got long-standing impact, not only on them, but their peers around them,' he said. Although police officers and the SIU will continue to have a heavy presence at the airport, Duraiappah said there was no threat to public safety. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Witnesses told CTV News they heard what they believed to be 'several gunshots outside Terminal 1 by pillar 14 and 15.' Passengers and vehicles 'are being rerouted to enter and exit through T1 arrivals,' the airport's X account said in a post at 8:30 a.m. ET. Flights continue to operate normally, the X account for Pearson said in a post around 10:30 a.m. ET. It urged travellers to 'use the roadway to Terminal 1 Arrivals' because the road to the departures area remains closed. However, the airport said that the parking garage in Terminal 1 remains open. 'Passengers can also park at Terminal 3 and the Viscount Station Kiss and Fly lot and take the train to Terminal 1,' the post said. Just after 7:30 a.m. ET, Ontario Provincial Police posted on X to say that roads were closed on 'Highway 409 to Terminal 1 Departures' in Mississauga. 'Please avoid the area,' the post said. A bus route that goes to Pearson resumed its regular service near Kipling Station, the Toronto Transit Commission said in a post on X at 8:45 a.m. ET. Due to police activity, the 900 Airport Express took a temporary detour, utilizing Terminal 3. Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland posted about the incident on X on Thursday morning, saying she was following it closely. 'Airport operations are not affected, but passengers can expect delays at the Terminal,' she wrote. 'Please check with your airline and (Toronto Pearson) for updates on your flights.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. I'm closely following the incident at Pearson this morning. Airport operations are not affected, but passengers can expect delays at the Terminal. Please check with your airline and @TorontoPearson for updates on your flights. — Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) April 24, 2025 Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. News Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks News
News.com.au
24-04-2025
- News.com.au
Man shot, killed at major airport
Police shot and killed an armed man at one of the world's biggest international airports on Thursday, local time. The death occurred at Toronto's Pearson International Airport Thursday causing a 'logistic nightmare' at Canada's busiest air gateway. The man, in his 30s, allegedly pulled out a gun when police responded to a report of a 'man in distress' inside of an SUV outside of Terminal 1 just before 7am on Thursday (9pm AEST) prompting three officers to open fire, according to Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, reports the New York Post. The unidentified man was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. No officers were injured, authorities said. The shooting 'is an isolated incident and there are no known threats to public safety,' the Peel Police Department said. Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said the group knew each other and were there 'for the purposes of travel'. Three officers responded and they had tried to mediate the dispute for around 10 minutes. However, the man la; allegedly then took out a gun and pointed it at an officer, Mr Duraiappah said. Witness Danilo Simic told Canada's public broadcaster CBC News he had just dropped off a friend when he heard at least 10 loud bangs — which stopped travellers at the airport dead in their tracks. 'Right away I thought, this can't be a car's loud exhaust. This is something different, something that I haven't heard before,' he said. Mr Simic told the outlet he saw a man lying on the ground bleeding from his torso and head as he drove away. An officer was giving him CPR and other cops were holding back a woman from the scene, he said. Former Toronto police homicide detective Mark Mendelson described the shooting as a 'logistic nightmare' given the amount of people coming and going from the busy airport. 'This is the peak time at Pearson, this hour of the day. Lots of US flights going out, lots of Caribbean flights going out, lots of planes coming in as well,' he told CP24. 'There is an enormous amount of people. Well over 100,000 people in this particular sort of timeslot.' In February, Toronto Airport was the location of a starling plane accident when a Delta jet landed in icy weather and flipped upside down on the runway.
