Four pedestrians injured in hit-and-run on Toronto Metropolitan University’s downtown campus

Four pedestrians were injured when a car sped down a pedestrian walkway on Toronto Metropolitan University’s downtown campus in what police described as an intentional and targeted attack.

Police said a car hit the victims on Nelson Mandela Way, a cobblestone pathway that is only open to foot traffic. Investigators believe the suspect, who fled the scene, may have been intending to target one person, and that victims included bystanders who were not connected.

Two of the injured were sent to the hospital, one with minor injuries and the other with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said. None of the four who were injured were students or staff at the university, which is located in the city’s downtown.

“At this stage, it appears to be an isolated incident,” Duty Inspector Todd Jocko told reporters at the scene.

Police said the attack happened around 2 p.m. The suspect, who the police did not describe, was driving a green sedan with a smashed windshield and licence plate number DEDZ 565. The police said the driver and the target may have known each other, but they were still in the early stages of their investigation.

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Noor Almusa, a third-year student in politics and criminology, was in the area when the attack occurred.

“I was just coming out the building and I see two women yelling at me to run and move out the way,” she said.

People around her were screaming and running away as the car sped through Nelson Mandela Way, turned right and then drove off TMU’s campus.

“It was really fast, really traumatic. I didn’t know who to talk to or what to do afterwards,” Ms. Almusa said.

Isaac Meng, an applied math student at TMU, said he was studying in a building nearby when the attack occurred. Although he didn’t see the car hit the pedestrians, he saw the aftermath.

He said he heard a loud, crashing sound and ran to the window. From there, he saw one person lying on the ground who appeared to be unconscious. Other students joined him and watched the scene unfold.

“They are all scared, and they feel that it was pretty crazy,” Mr. Meng said.

TMU released a statement thanking the police and urging witnesses to come forward.

“Our thoughts are with those who have been injured and impacted by this incident,” it reads. “We remind our community members that university support services are available for those who need them.”