A man was shot by police at Toronto Pearson’s Terminal 1 Thursday morning, prompting a major emergency response that’s affecting operations at the country’s busiest airport.
The officer involved in the shooting was not injured, Peel police said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The shooting “is an isolated incident and there are no known threats to public safety,” the post said.
Neither police, nor Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), have provided information on the man’s condition at this time, though Peel paramedics raced to the scene at 6:56 a.m., a spokesperson confirmed.
Images from the scene show a heavy police presence with several Peel Regional Police vehicles parked outside the massive three-level terminal building that’s the hub of Air Canada’s operations and most major international flights.
CBC News crews spotted at least a dozen police cars en route to the departures area of Terminal 1.
Police cordoned off a section of the road outside Terminal 1, where a grey car with its trunk open sat near several evidence markers. (Darek Zdzienicki/CBC)
One image from the scene shows what looks to be a grey SUV in a section of the road that’s been cornered off with police tape. There are several white evidence markers on the ground behind the vehicle, which has its trunk open.
A number of passengers were seen wheeling their suitcases between police cruisers with their lights flashing while making their way into Terminal 1.
It is unclear whether flights have been affected, but police said passengers can expect delays at the terminal.
Security wait times at all terminals remain within the normal range, with waits of up to 5 minutes expected, according to the Pearson airport website.
Roads closed, routes affected near airport
Airport officials warned travelers to plan ahead on Thursday in a social media post.
All passengers, and those driving vehicles, are being rerouted through Terminal 1’s arrivals area, it said.
Highway 409 to Terminal 1 departures is closed due to a police investigation, Ontario Provincial Police said in a post on X.
The 900 Airport Express bus is detouring via Terminal 3 due to police activity, the Toronto Transit Commission said.
Service on the UP Express appears to be unaffected at this time.
Ontario SIU investigators are heading to the scene, spokesperson Kristy Denette said in an email.
The SIU is an independent agency that investigates the conduct of police officers in incidents across Ontario that may have resulted in death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm or allegations of sexual assault.
At least a dozen police vehicles were on the road going to departures at Terminal One at Toronto’s Pearson airport on Thursday, CBC confirmed. (CBC)
