Bomb rips through Indian restaurant near Toronto

Police released this photo of the two suspects who covered their faces as they entered the restaurant.

AN INDIAN RESTAURANT was bombed in a Toronto suburb injuring 15 people attending family gatherings.

Police are seeking two suspects who left the homemade bomb before fleeing.

“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 Peel Regional Police Chief Jennifer Evans.
The explosion ripped through the Bombay Bhel restaurant located in mall in Mississauga around 10:30 p.m., Thursday (May 24).

Officials said three Indian/Canadians suffered were injured by the blast. Three were wounded seriously and transported to a hospital where they were treated and released. The three hospitalized individuals were a 35-year-old Brampton man, a 48-year-old Mississauga woman, and a 62-year-old Mississauga woman.

Two male suspects fled the scene immediately after the incident. “Nothing was said by these individuals,” said Peel Regional Sergeant Matt Bertram. “It appears they just went in, dropped off this device and took off right away.”

Police described the first suspect as "male, 5’10-6 feet, stocky build, mid-20s, light skin, wearing dark blue jeans, dark zip up hoodie pulled over head, baseball cap with light grey peak, face covered with black cloth material."

The second suspect was described "as 5’9”-5’10”, fair skin, thin build, faded blue jeans, dark zip-up hoodie hood pulled over head, grey t-shirt, dark coloured skate shoes, face covered."

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.”

Vikas Swarup, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, tweeted that India’s Consul General in Toronto visited the injured in the hospital. The Indian consulate in Toronto tweeted it had opened a helpline for those seeking assistance following the explosion.