1 youth injured in Toronto machete attack, suspect wanted by police

A male youth was injured after being attacked by a suspect allegedly armed with a machete, Toronto police said.

Authorities were called to the Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue West area in North York at 3:30 p.m. on Monday for reports of a person with a knife, believed to be a machete.

Police said one victim, described as a youth, was rushed to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Initially, police tweeted that there was a second victim, but they have not been located.

Northview Heights Secondary School was placed in lockdown on Monday afternoon, but it has since been lifted, and students were let out for the day.

“Many students and staff had already left the school for the day prior to the implementation of the lockdown. However, for those who were still in the building, the lockdown procedure included locking all exterior and classroom doors and keeping students and staff inside their classrooms and other secured areas,” school principal Alison MacLachlan wrote in a letter to parents and guardians.

A police spokesperson tells CityNews the incident occurred off school property and that the lockdown was initiated as a precaution.

“We were given the all clear by police to lift the lockdown at approximately 4:55 p.m., once it was determined that there was no threat to the school,” MacLachlan added in the letter.

Officers continue to search for a male suspect who was reportedly seen wearing what investigators called a white “horror movie” ski mask and all-black clothing.

It’s unclear if the male suspect is a student at the high school.