Gunfire broke out and a stampede ensued as fans on Monday celebrated at a rally for NBA champions the Toronto Raptors, leaving four people shot and thousands fleeing less than a block from where the players and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sat on stage.
Three people were arrested and two guns were recovered, Toronto police said, while investigators did not discuss a possible motive for the attack.
Droves of Raptors fans ran from the shooting in a stampede from City Hall Square, which was packed with tens of thousands of people.
Earlier, well over 1 million fans packed downtown Toronto for a parade for the Raptors, raising concerns about safety and overcrowding as the city celebrated its first major sports title in more than a quarter of a century.
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said four people suffered gunshot wounds, but said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Others suffered minor injuries as they tried to get away from the shooting, said Saunders, who asked for witnesses and people who might have video to come forward and help investigators.
Andrew Singh said he heard what appeared to be gunshots and that a woman was wounded before people started scrambling.
“We just saw the girl drop to the floor and the guy running off,” the 29-year-old said. “All I heard was: `Bop bop bop.’”
Asked if it was a targeted shooting or terrorism-related, police spokeswoman Allison Sparkes said the investigation was ongoing.
During a speech from one of the team owners, the host of the rally interrupted the proceedings to alert the crowd to an emergency and asked for calm.
Trudeau, Toronto Mayor John Tory, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard and other players were among those on stage at the time.
“I want to make sure everyone stays calm,” host Matt Devlin said. “This is serious. Everyone stay calm... There is an emergency being dealt with.”
Those on stage remained in place and speeches resumed shortly afterward.
“I hope all those injured in today’s shooting have a speedy recovery, and I’d like to thank the Toronto police for acting so quickly,” Trudeau tweeted. “We won’t let this act of violence take away from the spirit of today’s parade.”
Mike Mudidi said that he was enjoying the celebration when he heard screams behind him that someone had pulled out a gun. He said he froze as people started running in all directions.
“I just grabbed my buddies’ hands and ran,” he said.
Raptors fan Phil D’Souza said that the violence left a bad taste in his mouth and he questioned whether he would attend a similar event in the future.
“You couldn’t see the shooter, but it was that kind of chaos where you’re just expecting to see somebody coming around the corner. It was that kind of vibe,” D’Souza said.
There were at least four abandoned strollers in the square, indicating parents might have grabbed their children and run. Shoes, clothing and bags were also left behind.
A nearby intersection was cordoned off with police tape.
Tory thanked police for their quick response and said he was angered by the shooting.
“It is disappointing and I’m sure a source of anger for more than just me that anyone would carry a gun and discharge it at what was otherwise a joyous celebration,” Tory said in a statement. “I hope those found responsible will be held to account to the full extent that the law permits. I want to commend and thank the millions of other people who happily and peacefully celebrated our beloved Toronto Raptors.”
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