Mississauga, May 30: One of the two bombers of an Indian restaurant in this Toronto suburb that left 15 injured last week, was likely a woman, according to Regional Police Superintendent Rob Ryan.
Although police initially said that the two attackers, who put a homemade bomb at the Bombay Bhel restaurant on May 24 were men, Ryan told a news conference on Tuesday that "investigators now believe one suspect could be a woman".
"There is evidence that has come to light through witnesses and some other video that leads investigators to believe that it just may not be a male," he added.
"Suspects went to great length to hide their identities," he said. However, he did not make it clear which of the two persons captured in the surveillance video released by police, was thought to be a woman.
The pictures circulated by the police showed both with their faces covered with cloth and the hoods of their jackets pulled over their head.
While Ryan did not provide any further information at the news conference about the improvised explosive device beyond calling it "homemade", the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said that according to the police, it contained nails, "suggesting it was likely intended to maximise injuries".
Police agencies in the region were still looking for the two suspects and "it is a complex case and is going to take time to solve", Ryan said.
Ryan said that the reason for the attack was still a mystery.
"We do not have a clear motive and no one has claimed responsibility" and "we don't have any messaging during the incident, before the incident," he said.
"There is nothing to suggest it was a terrorist or a hate crime," he added.
They also do not have indication if the restaurant or anyone in it was targeted in the attack, he said.
Ryan said that about 30 people who were in the restaurant during the the birthday celebrations when the attack took place, had been interviewed and the restaurant was cooperating with the probe.
The Toronto Star newspaper reported that Bombay Bhel owner, Mohan Nagpal, had a lengthy interview with the investigators on Saturday.
A post on the restaurant's Facebook page said: "We are co-operating with the police during their investigation at this time as we have no knowledge of motivation for this terrible incident."
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Agra/Lucknow, Mar 26 (PTI): An aircraft carrying Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made an emergency landing at the Agra airport shortly after take off due to a technical snag, officials said.
The chief minister resumed his journey to Lucknow after over two hours, they said.
Adityanath was in Agra for a public event to mark the eighth anniversary of the BJP government in the state.
"After the programme, the chief minister was scheduled to leave from the Kheria Airport in Agra around 3.30 pm. The aircraft took off but returned shortly apparently due to a snag, which was then inspected by officials," a police official told PTI.
"The chief minister finally resumed his onward journey around 5.30 pm from Kheria," the official added.
Senior Agra district administration and police officials remained at the airport while the chief minister waited there. BJP supporters and local politicians were also present outside the airport.
Earlier in the day, Adityanath inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 128 projects worth Rs 635.22 crore at 'Vikas Utsav' held in Agra to mark the completion of eight years of his government.
"Residents of Agra now have access to metro rail services, officially making Agra a metro city. The construction of the civil terminal at the airport is in its final stages," he said, adding that previous governments failed to provide these facilities.