15 injured in explosion at Indian restaurant in Canada

At least 15 people were injured in a powerful explosion at an Indian restaurant in Canada's Ontario province, media reports said on Friday.

The blast happened around 10:30 p.m. at the Bombay Bhel restaurant in Mississauga, Ontario, a city just south of Toronto. Two male suspects fled the scene after detonating a bomb, a news agency reported.

According to paramedics at the scene, three of the injured suffered "critical blast injuries" and were taken to a trauma centre in the neighbouring city of Toronto.

Officials did not yet know the cause of the explosion, like whether it was caused by a gas leak, an accident, or an incendiary device.

Sushma Swaraj says in touch with Embassy in Canada

Minister for Foreign Affairs Sushma Swaraj has confirmed the news and said that she is in touch with the Consulate General in Toronto as well as the Indian Ambassador in Canada. In a tweet, she also shared an emergency number: +1-647-668-4108.

There is a blast in Indian restaurant Bombay Bhel in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. I am in constant touch with our Consul General in Toronto and Indian High Commissioner in Canada. Our missions will work round the clock. The Emergency number is : +1-647-668-4108.
Please RT

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 25, 2018

Police released a picture of two suspects on twitter

Police said that two suspects detonated the improvised explosive device in the restaurant and fled. "Two parties fled the scene immediately after the incident.

First described as male, 5'10-6feet, 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," Peel Regional Police said in a tweet. "Second male 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.

Looking for public's assistance in identifying the parties that fled following the explosion," it said in another tweet. Police have issued CCTV footage of the two suspects.

2 suspects attended the scene, detonated an Improvised Explosive Device within the restaurant. Several injured were taken to local hospital and 3 in critical condition were taken to a Toronto Trauma Centre. pic.twitter.com/yzCT59UVN6

— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPoliceMedia) May 25, 2018

It was not immediately known as how many people were inside the restaurant when the incident took place.

The motive for the attack was being investigated. The shopping plaza in which the explosion took place has been sealed off, Peel Regional Police said in a tweet.

The restaurant was evacuated and the plaza is expected to be sealed off for investigation until at least morning.

The blast comes a month after a driver plowed his white Ryder rental van into a lunch-hour crowd in Toronto, killing 10 people and injuring 15.