Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday condemned the blast in an Indian restaurant in suburban Toronto, calling it as a "cowardly act of terrorism".
The blast left around 15 people injured at the 'Bombay Bhel' restaurant in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga in Canada on Thursday night.
Expressing pain and shock over the incident, Amarinder Singh said that the dastardly attack on innocent people was totally unjustifiable and unpardonable, and underscored the gravity of the problem of terrorism.
"The incident, which comes just a month after 10 pedestrians were mowed to death by a van driver in Toronto, had once again highlighted the global dimensions of terrorism, said the Chief Minister, adding that it showed that no nation was immune or safe from this menace.
Pained and shocked at tragic blast in #Canada. Shows that terrorism is indeed a global problem and no nation is safe. Fighting terror is collective responsibility of all and nobody can afford to ignore it except at their own peril. Let’s all work together to wipe out this menace.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) May 25, 2018
Pointing out that he had raised the issue of the Canadian soil being increasingly used by radical forces with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the latter's India visit in February this year,he stressed that no country could afford to ignore the growing danger of terrorism except at their own peril.
The Chief Minister also appealed to the Central government to take up the issue of terrorism with the Canadian government so that the two countries could work in close coordination in the war against terror.
The Indian community in Canada is dominated by immigrants from Punjab.
Terrorist Affiliation With Canada Restaurant Explosion Not Confirmed: MEA
Minister of External Affairs (MEA) Sushma Swaraj on Friday maintained that as of now the bomb explosion at an Indian restaurant in Canada's Mississauga city, cannot be termed either as a terrorist attack or hate crime, according to the police.
"Here is the latest update from Canada. The 12 persons who were taken to hospital have been discharged. The other 3 persons who were critically injured are stable. According to Police, at this stage there is no evidence to term this incident as a terrorist attack or hate crime," MEA Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
Here is the latest update from Canada. The 12 persons who were taken to hospital have been discharged. The other 3 persons who were critically injured are stable. According to Police, at this stage there is no evidence to term this incident as a terrorist attack or hate crime.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 25, 2018
Earlier, Swaraj informed that she was in touch with Consul General in Toronto and gave an emergency number for the concerned people here. "There is a blast in Indian restaurant Bombay Bhel in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. I am in constant touch with our Consul General in Toronto and Indian High Commissioner in Canada. Our missions will work round the clock. The Emergency number is : +1-647-668-4108," Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
The bomb was allegedly detonated on Friday by two men at Bombay Bhel, injuring at least 15 people, of which three are critical. According to media reports, police, after receiving a call about the incident, cordoned off the area, following which a dog and bomb squad were deployed there.
Witnesses said two men entered the restaurant, after which three explosions were heard.
The attackers, according to witnesses, fled the restaurant immediately after the blast. Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects.
