A serious incident struck the “Salsa on St. Clair” festival in Toronto, where two people lost their lives and several others were injured after at least two armed individuals opened fire in the middle of the crowd. The event is considered the largest festival of Latin culture in Canada.
Toronto Police said that six people were shot, while several suspects remain at large. Authorities have cordoned off three crime scenes and seized two firearms, clarifying that at the moment there is no further danger to the public.
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Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said preliminary investigative findings indicate that the incident was linked to an exchange of gunfire between two individuals who were targeting each other.
“This appeared to be a gunfire exchange between two individuals who were targeting each other,” he said.
Footage released by local media shows attendees running away from the area in panic, while dozens of police vehicles, armored units, and ambulances quickly arrived at the scene.
Police stressed that the area was brought under control about an hour after the shooting, but urged residents to avoid the scene as the investigation is still ongoing. “Salsa on St. Clair” has been organized for 22 years and remains one of the largest cultural events in Toronto, attracting thousands of visitors every year.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow strongly condemned the attack and described it as a reckless and abhorrent act.
“This was a reckless and abhorrent act of violence at a crowded festival. I will make sure Toronto Police have all the resources they need to find those responsible and continue the fight against guns on our streets,” she said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also reacted after the incident, saying he was “horrified” by the attack.
“My prayers are with the families who lost their loved ones and with everyone affected by this terrible event,” Carney said.
The case once again brings concerns over gun violence in Canada to the center of the debate. Although the country has significantly stricter gun rules compared with the United States and mass shootings remain relatively rare, such episodes continue to shock public opinion. After the deadliest attack in the country’s modern history, in Nova Scotia in 2020, the Canadian government passed sweeping reforms and banned the use of firearms.
