Two people have been arrested after gunshots interrupted the massive victory parade for NBA champions Toronto Raptors in Canada’s largest city. Police say two people have suffered injuries, but they are not life-threatening.
Shots rang out at Nathan Phillips Square, at the corner of Bay and Albert, on Monday afternoon as tens of thousands of people swarmed the streets of Toronto to celebrate the team’s historic first basketball championship.
Video from the scene shows crowds of fans dressed in red Raptors jerseys stampeding and fleeing in panic from the sound of gunshots.
Two victims have been located, with “serious but not life threatening” injuries, police said. Two firearms were confiscated from two suspects, who have been taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing.
About 1.5 million fans had packed into the downtown Toronto area for the parade, and tens of thousands remained in Nathan Phillips Square outside City Hall when the shooting took place, raising concerns about overcrowding even before the stampede triggered by the shots. Toronto police spokeswoman Allison Sparkes has confirmed the arrests, adding that “we have no incidents currently underway” and “crowds are dispersing.”