Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said the actions of a driver who plowed into pedestrians today "definitely look deliberate."

"Based on witness accounts, we have a vehicle that started north on Yonge Street from Finch and drove southbound at some point in times on sidewalks, at some point in times driving southbound in northbound lanes," Saunders said.

Saunders added: "So, it's very clear just from a general perspective to say that the actions definitely look deliberate."

The suspected driver, Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill, Ontario, was arrested in a white rental van less than 30 minutes after police received a 911 call, Saunders said.

At this point, "there would appear to be no national security connection" to the incident, said Ralph Goodale, Canada's minister of public safety and emergency preparedness.