Mississauga (Canada), May 30
One of the two bombers of an Indian restaurant in this Toronto suburb that left 15 injured last week, was likely a woman, according to Regional Police Superintendent Rob Ryan.
Although police initially said that the two attackers, who put a homemade bomb at the Bombay Bhel restaurant on May 24 were men, Ryan told a news conference on Tuesday that "investigators now believe one suspect could be a woman".
"There is evidence that has come to light through witnesses and some other video that leads investigators to believe that it just may not be a male," he added.
"Suspects went to great length to hide their identities," he said. However, he did not make it clear which of the two persons captured in the surveillance video released by police, was thought to be a woman.
The pictures circulated by the police showed both with their faces covered with cloth and the hoods of their jackets pulled over their head.
While Ryan did not provide any further information at the news conference about the improvised explosive device beyond calling it "homemade", the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said that according to the police, it contained nails, "suggesting it was likely intended to maximise injuries".
Police agencies in the region were still looking for the two suspects and "it is a complex case and is going to take time to solve", Ryan said.
Ryan said that the reason for the attack was still a mystery.
"We do not have a clear motive and no one has claimed responsibility" and "we don't have any messaging during the incident, before the incident," he said.
"There is nothing to suggest it was a terrorist or a hate crime," he added.
They also do not have indication if the restaurant or anyone in it was targeted in the attack, he said.
Ryan said that about 30 people who were in the restaurant during the the birthday celebrations when the attack took place, had been interviewed and the restaurant was cooperating with the probe.
The Toronto Star newspaper reported that Bombay Bhel owner, Mohan Nagpal, had a lengthy interview with the investigators on Saturday.
A post on the restaurant's Facebook page said: "We are co-operating with the police during their investigation at this time as we have no knowledge of motivation for this terrible incident."
Tension between consulate, police over Canada Indian restaurant blast probe
Mississauga (Canada), May 30 (IANS) There are signs of tension between the Indian Consulate General in Toronto and the regional police over a hotline set up by the diplomatic mission after the explosion at a restaurant in this heavily Southasian city, according to The Toronto Star.
"As the investigation continued, Peel police issued a rebuke on Sunday, reminding anyone with information about Thursday's bomb attack on the Bombay Bhel restaurant in the Toronto suburb here, that the police -- and not the Indian Consulate of Toronto -- are the ones to call," the newspaper said.
Peel is the region covering Mississauga and other municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area.
The newspaper reported that police said in a written statement sent to it: "Although we appreciate the assistance of any outside agencies and community partners, we would prefer than any information in relation to this incident be provided directly to investigators through a dedicated tip line at 1-800-966-0616."
India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced on Twitter the setting up of the "emergency number" 1-647-668-4108 by the consulate, saying: "Our missions will work round the clock."
"The first action was to open a helpline for Indian citizens and also the Indian-Canadian community, because it's a vast Indo-Canadian community in Toronto," India's Consul General Dinesh Bhatia was quoted as saying by the Global News.
"People are calling to find out if their relatives are involved because in the middle of the night they couldn't reach any of the numbers," he told the national multi-media website.
There was no indication from Swaraj or Bhatia that they were conducting a parallel investigation or soliciting information of an investigative nature but that they were only helping people with information about family and relatives.
Canadian officials have not released the names of the three people who were seriously injured in the blast.
The police reaction may have been sparked by an Ontario Gurudwara Committee statement criticising the consulate.
The Star said the Committee accused "the Indian Consulate of Toronto for overstepping its diplomatic reach by establishing a hotline to gather information on the bombing".
When told about the Committee's warning about the hotline, "a Peel police source, speaking on background, reacted sharply," the Star said.
It reported that the source said, "Anyone contacting the Consulate with information, we would expect to hear about that immediately. We are handling this. Period."
Later, the police sent the note to the newspaper.
The Committee also condemned what it said was "misinformation" spread by the Indian media.
