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Crime and the TTC: A look at recent disturbing incidents involving Toronto’s transit system

WATCH: TTC chief says he understands growing safety concerns – Jan 25, 2023

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated that Toronto police said a man was wanted in connection with an alleged criminal harassment which reportedly took place on Jan. 23 at Wilson Station. However, in an update on Jan. 26, police said no offence had been committed. This article has been amended.

There have been numerous incidents of crime involving Toronto’s transit system in recent days, prompting safety concerns from the public and officials vowing to do more to tackle the problem.

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Notable violent incidents involving the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) have occurred over the past several months, but the number of cases in recent days have drawn renewed concern.

In a notable case last month, two women were stabbed onboard a subway car, killing one of them. In that incident, police said the victims did not know the alleged attacker.

Over the past nine days, there have been at least 11 violent or criminal incidents reported involving the TTC.

Here is a look at those cases:

Wednesday, Jan. 18: ‘Hate-motivated’ assault at Bloor-Yonge Station

Toronto police announce they’re looking to identify a man wanted after a suspected “hate-motivated” assault at Bloor-Yonge Subway Station around 8:30 a.m.

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According to police, a man allegedly struck a victim in the head, causing the victim’s religious head covering to fall to the ground.

“The man made derogatory comments towards the victim and left the area,” police alleged in a news release.

READ MORE: Toronto police seek suspect after ‘hate-motivated’ assault at TTC station

Friday, Jan. 20: Man reportedly tries to push victim onto tracks at Bloor-Yonge Station

An arrest is made after a man reportedly tried to push a person onto the tracks at a downtown subway station.

Toronto Transit Commission spokesperson Stuart Green told Global News the incident happened just after noon at Bloor-Yonge station.

Green said a janitor witnessed what he believed was an attempt to push someone onto the tracks and immediately reported the incident to the transit control centre.

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“The janitor witnessed the person that was alleged to have done the pushing board a northbound train,” Green said.

The subway train was then held at Rosedale station — one stop north — where TTC special constables and Toronto police made an arrest, Green said.

He said the victim in the incident didn’t actually end up on the tracks and was able to “continue their journey.”

READ MORE: Man reportedly tries to push victim onto tracks at downtown Toronto subway station

Saturday, Jan. 21: Teen girl allegedly sexually assaulted on bus

A teen girl is allegedly sexually assaulted by a man on a number 111 bus from Kipling Station.

Police alleged a man sat next to a teenage girl and sexually assaulted her.

On Wednesday, police announced an arrest was made in that case.

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READ MORE: Man charged after allegedly sexually assaulting teen on Toronto bus

Saturday, Jan. 21: TTC bus driver allegedly shot in the face with BB gun

Police say they’re investigating after a bus driver was allegedly shot with a BB gun while waiting to begin work.

Toronto police said the incident was reported in the area of Markham Road and Progress Avenue at around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Global News later spoke to the bus driver, Alexandra Stoeckle, who says she is “really grateful it wasn’t a bullet.”

“I was just standing there and I felt something start hitting my chest. I looked up and got hit right in the face,” said Stoeckle, who’s been a bus driver for the last 16 months.

READ MORE: Toronto bus driver shot in the face with BB gun thankful to be alive

READ MORE: Police investigating alleged ‘criminal harassment’ against 2 teen girls at TTC station

Monday, Jan. 23: TTC workers allegedly attacked by group of teens

Officers say they received reports that 10 to 15 young people had attacked TTC employees in Scarborough in the area of Kennedy and Merrian roads around 3:30 p.m.

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In an update on Tuesday, police said their investigation led officers to believe that an altercation involving a group of boys resulted in two transit employees being physically assaulted.

Police said “through extensive review” of video surveillance, four 13-year-old boys were arrested and charged.

READ MORE: Police charge 4 boys after alleged assault on TTC workers

Monday, Jan. 23: Woman violently robbed at Broadview Station

Police say a robbery was reported at around 7 p.m. on Monday at Broadview Subway Station, just north of Danforth Avenue.

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Video later released by Toronto police appears to show a man aggressively robbing a woman of her purse.

The suspect flees the scene as the woman tries to get up after being dragged to the ground.

Police announced Thursday that an arrest was made in connection with the case.

READ MORE: Video shows suspect stealing purse from woman at Toronto subway station: police

Tuesday, Jan. 24: Woman suffers life-altering injuries in alleged unprovoked stabbing on Spadina streetcar

Police say a stabbing occurred around 2 p.m. onboard a TTC streetcar that was heading southbound on Spadina Avenue, at Sussex Avenue.

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A 23-year-old woman was on the streetcar when a woman who she didn’t know approached her and stabbed her “numerous times,” police said.

A police spokesperson confirmed the attack was unprovoked.

Duty Insp. Lori Kranenburg previously said the victim was found suffering from stab wounds to her head and face. Police later said she suffered life-altering injuries from the attack.

A 43-year-old woman was arrested in connection with that case and faces a number of changes, including attempted murder.

READ MORE: Victim has life-altering injuries after unprovoked stabbing on Toronto streetcar: police

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Wednesday, Jan. 25: TTC employees allegedly chased by suspect with syringe

Toronto police say a suspect has been arrested after two TTC employees were allegedly chased with a syringe in the city’s downtown core.

Police said the incident happened at Dundas Station at around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Investigators said the two transit workers were able to get away after they were chased by a suspect with a syringe. The pair did not sustain any injuries.

READ MORE: Suspect arrested after TTC employees chased with a syringe, Toronto police say

Wednesday, Jan. 25: 16-year-old boy suffers serious injuries after reported stabbing on bus

A 16-year-old boy suffers serious injuries after a stabbing was reported on a TTC bus just before 4 p.m. in the area of Bloor Street and Old Mill Trail.

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He was taken to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said a suspect fled, last seen running on Bloor.

Duty Insp. Lori Kranenburg said it was not immediately clear whether the victim and suspect are known to one another.

READ MORE: 16-year-old boy seriously injured after stabbing reported on Toronto transit bus: police

Thursday, Jan. 26: Passenger reportedly shot at with replica gun at York University Subway Station

Toronto police say they are investigating reports that a passenger was shot at with a replica gun at York University Subway Station.

Police said they were called to the station at 11:43 a.m. for reports of teens with a BB gun.

Officers said four teens are in custody and an investigation is ongoing.

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No injuries were reported.

READ MORE: Person reportedly shot with BB gun at Toronto subway station: police

— With files from Hannah Jackson, Isaac Callan, Gabby Rodrigues and Sean O’Shea

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