kipling station fire

Half-naked Toronto man sets random woman on fire at TTC bus station

A woman who appears to be in her 20s has been rushed to hospital with "life-altering inuries" from the TTC's Kipling Station after being set on fire Friday afternoon by an unknown man described as "Asian" and "topless."

Toronto Police say that they first recieved reports of "unknown trouble" in the area of Kipling Avenue and Dundas Avenue West around 12:23 p.m. this afternoon.

In video footage from a transit control call shared with blogTO, a female operator can be heard reporting that "there was a fire on bus number 8062" and that a female in her late 20s or early 30s was suffering from possible second-degree burns.

"She's concious and breathing," said the operator before dropping an unsettling fact: "There was a male that set a fire on the female."

The operator clarified that the woman was no longer on fire, and that she was unsure if the assailant was still inside the station, but reiterated that "there was a male that set a fire to the female."

When asked about whether or not the man had any weapons, the woman replied: "We're not sure what he has."

The Toronto Police Service confirmed to blogTO on Friday afternoon that a man had "reportedly poured a liquid substance on a female" and then "ignited the liquid substance."

"The victim was assisted by Toronto Fire, Toronto Police, Toronto Transit Constables and passerby," said police. "The victim was transported to hospital by emergency run."

The man who is believed to have assaulted the woman was arrested. Service on the TTC's Line 2 was suspended between Kipling and Islington around 12:30 p.m. and has yet to resume heading into rush hour.

Officials confirmed late Friday that the man and women did not know each other and that the assault was random. It is not yet clear why the man set the woman on fire.

This is the latest in a string of violent incidents taking place at or around TTC stations this year — a wave of crime that city officials are blaming, in part, on "mental health and addiction concerns."

While assaults on the TTC are relatively uncommon, compared to how many hundreds of millions of people ride the red rocket each year without incident, several high-profile, random attacks (including stabbings, shootings and shovings) have put Toronto residents on high alert.

"Like all Torontonians, we at the TTC are shocked by today's attack at Kipling Station. Our thoughts are with the victim for a full recovery," said TTC CEO Rick Leary in a statement following the incident.

"I have spoken to Chief Ramer and offered Toronto Police our full support as they investigate and work to bring the suspect to justice. I know incidents like this are concerning for our customers — and I share that concern."

Leary reiterated that the TTC moves hundreds of millions of customers every year without incident, but noted that this can't be taken for granted.

"Safety is paramount to all we do and I am committed to ensuring the TTC remains as safe as possible," he continued. "To that end, we are always looking at ways to improve safety for both customers and employees."

Lead photo by

Edward Brain


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