The first picture has emerged of Toronto van crash suspect Alek Minassian, who is thought to have killed 10 people in the Canadian city on Monday.

He was arrested after a brief confrontation with police, and chief Mark Saunders said the crash “definitely looked deliberate”.

However, officials did not comment on a possible motive except to play down any connection to terrorism.

Minassian was a student at Seneca College in Toronto’s North York area, CBC reported, citing a LinkedIn profile that appeared to have been taken down following the crash.

He was not previously known to police.

Officers suspect Minassian was the driver of a rented white van that ploughed into pedestrians at about 1.30pm local time on Monday, killing 10 people and injuring 15 more.

The driver was heading south on busy Yonge Street and the area was crowded with people enjoying an unseasonably warm day when the van jumped onto the pavement.

Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill, a suburb north of Toronto, has been arrested after 10 people were killed in the city on Monday (Alek Minassian/LinkedIn) (LinkedIn)

Ali Shaker, who was driving near the van at the time, told Canadian broadcaster CP24 the driver appeared to deliberately smash into the crowd at more than 30 mph.

Another witness, Peter Kang, told CTV News the van did not appear to be trying to stop.

Toronto van attacker stands off with policeman

“If it was an accident he would have stopped,” Mr Kang said. “But the person just went through the sidewalk. He could have stopped.”

Toronto van attack: in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Toronto van attack: in pictures Toronto van attack: in pictures The front end damage of the van that a driver used to hit several pedestrians in Toronto. AFP/Getty Toronto van attack: in pictures A lone police officer confronts the man suspected of driving the rented white van. rayy0889/Twitter/Screengrab Toronto van attack: in pictures Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill, a suburb north of Toronto, was arrested after he drove the vehicle into pedestrians. LinkedIn Toronto van attack: in pictures 10 people were killed in the city on Monday, 23rd April. AP Toronto van attack: in pictures Farzad Salehi consoles his wife, Mehrsa Marjani, who was at a nearby cafe and witnessed the aftermath. AP Toronto van attack: in pictures Emergency services closed Yonge Street after the van mounted a pavement crashing into a crowd of pedestrians. AP Toronto van attack: in pictures A covered body lies on Yonge Street. EPA Toronto van attack: in pictures Police inspect the van involved with the collision. Getty Toronto van attack: in pictures People sign a memorial for the victims. AP Toronto van attack: in pictures Police officers stand by a covered body. Aaron Vincent Elkaim/The Canadian Press via AP

Shortly before his arrest the driver was caught on video begging a police officer to kill him, and saying he had a gun. But he was taken into custody “without incident”, authorities said.

Police said the suspect was set to appear in court at 10am on Tuesday, and that information on the charges against him would be released at that time.