19-year-old charged after explosive device goes off at Newmarket mall

York Regional Police charged a 19-year-old man after he allegedly set off a homemade explosive device while inside a mall in Newmarket.

Investigators say it happened around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Upper Canada Mall food court in the Yonge Street and Davis Drive area.

Officers were able to locate a homemade incendiary device which had been detonated. No physical injuries were reported.

Police allege that a man attended the food court and planted the explosive device before fleeing the mall.

The Canine Unit was able to track the man down in the area a short time later. He was arrested at the scene.

On Thursday, police identified 19-year-old Michael Gatdula of Toronto, who faces several charges, including arson with a disregard for human life, mischief endangering life and assault with a weapon.

Cons. Amy Boudreau tells CityNews it was not a terrorist attack, and it appears the suspect acted alone.

“This is very serious and a concerning incident,” Boudreau said. “Anyone who would have been there would have been very frightened. There is also the potential that someone could have been badly injured by this.”

Boudreau says many shoppers believed there had been a shooting inside the mall at the time of the incident.

“It doesn’t appear to be connected to anything larger,” Boudreau said. “It was not a terrorist act… [the suspect] was the only one involved.”

A spokesperson for Upper Canada Mall would not comment.

The investigation is ongoing.