Woman set on fire in random attack at Kipling Station, man in custody
Posted June 17, 2022 1:25 pm.
Last Updated June 18, 2022 12:01 am.
WARNING: Some details in this story may be disturbing to readers. Discretion is advised.
A woman is in critical condition after she was set on fire in a random attack at Kipling Station in Etobicoke on Friday, according to Toronto police.
Constable Alex Li says police received reports about a man attacking a woman onboard a TTC bus just before 12:30 p.m.
“The man was then alleged to have poured some type of liquid substance or an accelerant on this woman and then ignited that substance causing a fire, and causing the female victim to burn,” Li says.
“There was some type of interaction between the man and the woman, what that was is part of the investigation,” Li says, adding police are still investigating and talking to witnesses.
Police say this is an isolated incident and investigators believe this was a random attack.
#BREAKING Toronto Police say an assault in the bus bays at Kipling Station, in which a man set a woman on fire, was a random attack. EMS says she suffered life-threatening and life-altering injuries. @CityNewsTO and https://t.co/sqfQADm8iA pic.twitter.com/qV2l7PzTH9
— Mark Douglas (@DouglasCityNews) June 17, 2022
A 35-year-old man is now in custody, and Li says he will be facing charges. We don’t know what those charges are at this time. It’s also unconfirmed where the man was arrested.
Toronto medics say the victim is in her 20s and she has life-threatening and life-altering injuries. Li says he has heard the victim has second and third degree burns.
“It was a collaborative effort between Toronto Fire, Toronto Paramedics, Toronto Police, the TTC special constables, as well as there was reports that good samaritans that were in the area helping out,” Li says, “I was told that they came to the aide of the victim.”
Police are appealing for anyone who has information about what happened, witnesses, and anyone who has cellphone video footage to contact officers.
Toronto police and emergency crews are on scene at Kipling Station after a woman was lit on fire by a man June 17, 2022. (CityNews Toronto/ Mark Douglas)
Mayor, TTC respond to shocking attack at transit hub
Toronto’s mayor posted a statement late Friday afternoon, it read in part, “We all pray for the woman attacked at Kipling Station. This is a shocking criminal act that shouldn’t happen anywhere in our city.”
John Tory went on to say he thanks the TTC employees and bystanders who rushed to help the victim, as well as police, firefighters, and paramedics.
Tory said he spoke with the TTC’s CEO and Toronto Police Chief James Ramer, and they assured him no stone will be left unturned in the investigation.
We all pray for the woman attacked at Kipling Station.
This is a shocking criminal act that shouldn’t happen anywhere in our city. pic.twitter.com/R7PWwbTHAq
— John Tory (@TorontosMayor) June 17, 2022
After the incident, service between Kipling and Islington was shut down, but Line 2 Bloor-Danforth has resumed service between the two stations, however, bus service is still being redirected to Islington Station.
“We at the TTC are shocked by today’s attack,” reads a statement from TTC CEO Rick Leary. “I know incidents like this are concerning for our customers — and I share that concern.”
“Safety is paramount to all we do and I am committed to ensuring the TTC remains as safe as possible.”
The TTC and the mayor vowed to increase the number of patrols by officers after a string of violent incidents at subway stations in April.
A woman was pushed onto the subway tracks at Bloor-Yonge station on April 17, suffering a broken rib and narrowly escaping getting struck by a train.
Toronto police were searching for another suspect who allegedly robbed a victim after putting them in a chokehold and knocking them unconscious at Pioneer Village station.
With files from Lucas Spadafora and Michael Ranger.
