Police searching for two suspects, SUV allegedly involved in East York ATM explosion
Toronto police have released images of two men as well as an SUV they believe were involved in the attempted theft of an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in East York over the weekend.
The incident happened on Sunday at about 4:45 a.m. at a TD Canada Trust branch at 801 O’Connor Drive, near St. Clair Avenue East.
According to police, a grey SUV drove up to the financial institution and an explosive device was allegedly set up against an outdoor bank machine.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Two men then exited the vehicle and allegedly waited around the corner as the SUV parked nearby.
Police said that the device detonated about 10 minutes later, damaging the ATM, which is a drive-thru model and is independent from the main building.
They said the two men then ran towards the bank machine “only to find that the cash box was not breached.”
In surveillance video obtained by CTV News, two men are seen walking casually away from the area of the ATM moments before the explosion. They duck into an entryway along O’Connor Drive. One man then moves on to another doorway, appearing to dart in quickly right before a cloud of dust or debris is seen in the top left corner, where the ATM is located. Seconds later, they’re both seen running back toward the bank machine.
No injuries were reported.
Toronto police’s explosives disposal and K9 units were dispatched to the scene early Sunday afternoon. Toronto Fire Service also deployed its hazmat and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives units to assist the police with their investigation.
On Monday, forensic services remained at the scene, and police officers could be seen doing systematic searches along the rooftops of both the bank and neighbouring businesses.
A number of people who live nearby told CTV News Toronto that they were awoken around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday by the explosion.
“I heard the blast, like a bomb or something like that. It woke me right up,” said an area resident named John.
“I went out to check. I thought it was the boiler room.”
Area resident Justin Van Dette, of the O’Connor Bermondsey Business Association, called the incident “very, very terrifying to the community.”
"There was a loud explosion heard for blocks from this site. It’s terrifying,” he said.
Images of a newer-model, grey SUV wanted in connection with an explosion that damaged an ATM in East York on Jan. 28. (TPS photos)
Police said the two suspects ran away from the scene and were last seen heading westbound on O'Connor Drive in the same grey SUV.
The first suspect is described by police as a man with a stocky build. He was last seen wearing dark pants with white stripes down the side of the leg, a light-coloured hooded sweater, and dark shoes with white soles.
Images of Suspect #1 wanted in connection with a Jan. 28 explosion at an ATM in East York. (TPS photos)
The second suspect is a man with a thin build and last seen wearing dark shoes, dark pants, and a dark jacket with fur around the hood.
Images of Suspect #2 wanted in connection with a Jan. 28 explosion at an ATM in East York. (TPS photos)
No further suspect information has been released at this time.
The SUV is only described as a newer model and grey.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5500, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.222tips.com.
With files from CTV News Toronto’s Janice Golding.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, pleads guilty in sports betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud Wednesday in a sports betting case where prosecutors allege he stole US$16 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.