No evidence has been found so far to support the Isis's claim of responsibility for the mass shooting in Toronto which killed two people and wounded 13 others, police in the Canadian city said.

The Islamist group claimed one of its “soldiers” carried out the weekend attack “in response to calls to target citizens of the coalition countries.”

It provided no further details or evidence in its statement, which was issued via its propaganda agency Amaq.

“At this stage, we have no evidence to support these claims,” said Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders. “We will continue to explore every investigative avenue including interviewing those who knew Mr. Hussain, reviewing his online activity, and looking into his experiences with mental health.”

The statement put out by Isis followed the same format they have used in other attacks where they have “jumped on the bangwagon to say they’ve done it,” Rafaello Pantucci, director of international security studies at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Independent.

“From Isis’ perspective it doesn’t really matter. What matters to them is to raise their profile and get their message out there. It doesn’t surprise me that there is no clear link, it seems quite a random attack and the guy seems to have some issues.”

Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Show all 15 1 /15 Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown A man joins a vigil for the victims of a shooting the evening before, in Toronto The Canadian Press via AP Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Police investigate a car with a bullet hole AP Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Friends of 18-year-old shooting victim Reese Fallon leave candles on pictures of Fallon at a makeshift memorial AP Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown A crime scene clean up crew scrubs the side walks AFP/Getty Images Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Desirae Shapiro, 19, left, and her mother, Gina Shapiro, friends of 18-year-old Danforth shooting victim Reese Fallon, react after visiting a makeshift memorial AP Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Police officers investigate a mass shooting on Danforth Avenue REUTERS Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Police are seen near the scene the shooting REUTERS Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown A friend of a victim who died in the shooting tries to go to the crime scene AFP/Getty Images Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown A police officer looks for evidence under a car REUTERS Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown People leave an area taped off by the police near the scene REUTERS Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown People leave personal messages on a building under renovation, remembering the victims of Sunday's shooting on and near Danforth Avenue AP Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Toronto Police officers work on Danforth St AFP/Getty Images Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Residents of the Danforth area leave flowers and light candles for the victims at the scene AFP/Getty Images Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Toronto mayor John Tory speaks to police officers at the scene AFP/Getty Images Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Toronto Police investigate the scene of the shooting AFP/Getty Images

Mr Pantucci added that the group had claimed attacks they may not have been responsible for “with increasing frequency” over the last year.

He said: “It speaks to a broader pressure that the group is under. In that context they’re not able to marshal the same sort of resources to project their message out there. It makes sense that as they lose more territory and come under pressure on the ground they will start to do this, because from their perspective it doesn’t really cost them anything to do it.”

Faisal Hussain, 29, was identified as the attacker who unloaded a handgun into crowds in the Canadian city’s popular Greektown neighbourhood.

He died after an exchange of gunfire with police.

His family said he suffered from lifelong “severe mental health challenges,” including psychosis and depression, and had not responded to numerous treatment approaches, including therapy and medication.

They said he worked in a grocery store but spent much of his time at home.

Authorities identified the 10-year-old girl who was slain in the attack as Julianna Kozis of Markham, Ontario. Toronto police released a photo of the smiling, young girl and said her family had asked for privacy during their time of grief.

Police previously identified the other person killed in the shooting as 18-year-old Reese Fallon of Toronto. The teenager was due to start university this autumn.