A man is in custody after a woman was set on fire while on a TTC bus on Friday afternoon in what police called an “accidental attack”.
Police say they were originally called to Kipling Station, near Kipling Avenue and Dundas Street, around 12:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a man attacking a woman nearby.
“It was then alleged that the man poured some kind of liquid substance or accelerator on the woman and then set it on fire, causing a fire and burning the victim,” Toronto police said. said Alex Lee.
Employees of TTK, as well as citizens nearby, provided assistance to the victim and she was rushed to hospital in critical condition related to the burns. The victim, a 20-year-old woman, suffered second and third degree burns, police said.
A 35-year-old suspect has been detained in connection with the incident.
There was interaction between the man and the woman before the incident, Lee said, and police believe it was an isolated incident.
“The preliminary investigation led our investigators to believe that this was an arbitrary attack,” he said. “I can’t confirm what the relationship was between the man and the woman or what was said before the accelerator was ignited, but we want to inform the public again that this is an isolated incident on the bus, we have someone in custody and charges are pending.”
TTC CEO Rick Leary told CP24 on Friday afternoon that the attack took place on a bus, not at the level of the track. Service on line 2 between Kipling and Islington stations was suspended while police conducted their investigation.
“I can tell you that TTC officers reacted right there to the incident and managed to help the police catch the suspect,” he said.
In an earlier statement, Leary said he was “shocked” by the attack at Kipling Station.
“Our thoughts are with the victim of full recovery,” he said. “I know that incidents like this are worrying for customers – and I share that concern.”
“Safety is paramount to everything we do, and I am committed to ensuring that TTC remains as safe as possible.”
Leary added that while TTC provides transit to millions of customers each year without incident, they “cannot and do not take it for granted.”
He said special police officers are strategically patrolling the transit system to deter and respond to security incidents, and the agency is working with Toronto police to increase its presence.
As early as April, police said they would increase their visibility to the TTC after several violent and disturbing incidents, including a case in which a woman was pushed onto the rails as a train approached.
She manages to roll under the edge of the platform to avoid the oncoming train, getting a broken rib.
The woman sued TTC for negligence, claiming that TTC had “not implemented enough safety protocols on the subway platform”.
TTC, for its part, defends itself by saying that the victim chose to stand close to the edge of the platform and did not pay due care and attention to her surroundings.
Toronto police have reported several other cases of violence against the transit system since then, including attacks, stabbings and robberies. Leary said that in addition to ensuring that there are cameras and emergency alarms in all stations and vehicles, TTC is “actively recruiting new special police officers” and expanding its partnership with Streets to Homes to help people in crisis.
In a statement posted on social media, Toronto Mayor John Torrey thanked TTC staff and passersby for “rushing to help the victim,” along with special police officers, police, firefighters and paramedics.
“We are all praying for the woman who was attacked at Kipling Station. “This is a shocking crime that should not happen anywhere in our city,” he said. “I spoke with both TTC CEO Rick Leary and Police Chief James Ramer, and they both assured me that they do not leave a stone unturned in the investigation of this issue.
Police say the suspect is likely to be charged in connection with the incident, but did not say what they would be.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is being called to contact the police or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.
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