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Toronto police say they’re looking for multiple suspects after an altercation broke out inside a crowded Yorkdale Mall and shots were fired.

“There was an altercation between two groups of men. At some point, one of the individuals from one of the groups discharged a firearm at least twice,” Supt. Rob Johnson told reporters late Thursday afternoon.

Police said emergency crews were called to the north-end mall at around 2:50 p.m. with reports of the sounds of gunshots.

Johnson said the incident happened in the southeast corner of the mall near a café and the security office. He said two male suspects were last seen leaving an exit in the same part of the mall.

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No one was hit by the gunfire, but Johnson said two people received minor injuries while exiting the mall.

“Anytime a firearm is discharged it’s problematic. Thankfully nobody was hit in this,” he said.

Johnson said Toronto police officers were able to respond quickly since the service has an office at the mall.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene inside the mall in the moments after the shots were fired.

“Originally we just thought it was a fire alarm testing. … Within five minutes they said it’s pretty serious. The doors are all being locked and that we had to kind of stay below the windows — so it was frightening,” Nella Stabropoulos said.

“There was people crying in there — vomiting, literally. I guess with what’s happening in the city, you just don’t know where you’re safe anymore.”

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Multiple witness accounts place shooting in between the @YorkdaleStyle Starbucks and Samsung stores. What people heard and saw coming up @globalnewsto pic.twitter.com/3GaaB0Gcz9 — Jamie Mauracher (@JamieMauracher) August 30, 2018

Mayor John Tory issued a written statement in response to the shooting, urging people with information to contact authorities.

“Whether it is Yorkdale Mall or anywhere else in Toronto, people should not have to worry about gun violence breaking out – at any time,” he said.

“There are too many guns available to criminals in the city and I am determined to end that with the help of our police and our government partners.”

Following today’s incident, we will be closed for the rest of the day to allow police to investigate. Yorkdale is secure and we are cooperating with police to safely evacuate the centre. We expect to open as scheduled tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. All questions to: @TPSOperations — Yorkdale Style (@YorkdaleStyle) August 30, 2018

Yorkdale Mall said in an update on Twitter that the mall will be closed for the rest of the day for the police investigation. It’s expected the mall will reopen on Friday.

The TTC suspended subway train service at Yorkdale station after the incident, but service resumed at around 6 p.m.

Anyone with information, or photos or videos from inside the mall, is being asked to call police at 416-808-3200.

— With files from Ryan Rocca

Hundreds were outside of @YorkdaleStyle after it was evacuated due to shots fired. Thankfully, no injuries. Many though, shaken up @globalnewsto pic.twitter.com/ujGCKhBoWl — Jamie Mauracher (@JamieMauracher) August 30, 2018

Update: Yorkdale Shopping Centre is in lockdown. Nobody being let in. People being assisted to leave. Officers canvassing for witnesses and video from witnesses, mall and stores. No injuries. East side of mall is location of incident. More info to follow #GO1605887 ^sm — Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) August 30, 2018

Sounds of gunshots @yorkdalestyle Officers have confirmed a discharge in the area. Mall is being evacuated. Avoid the area @TPS32Div 1605887 ^ma — Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) August 30, 2018

Line 1: Regular service has resumed at Yorkdale. — TTC Service Alerts (@TTCnotices) August 30, 2018

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