DFA checking for Pinoy victims in Ontario blast, US shooting

According to DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato, the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto has been monitoring the aftermath of the explosion at an Indian restaurant in Mississauga, Ontario, which is home to som 40,000 Filipinos (ShutterStock photo)

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday it has yet to confirm whether Filipinos were among those injured in the recent explosion at a restaurant in Ontario, Canada on Thursday and the school shooting in the US state of Indiana on Friday.

According to DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato, the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto has been monitoring the aftermath of the explosion at an Indian restaurant in Mississauga, Ontario, which is home to some 40,000 Filipinos.

The improvised explosive device was set off by two unidentified men.

According to reports, the suspects walked into the Bombay Bhel Indian restaurant around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, detonated the device, and fled.

While the manhunt continues as of posting, Consul General Rosalinda Prospero said of the 15 people reported wounded in the incident, three persons were critically injured.

Meanwhile, Cato said the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago is also reaching out to authorities and leaders of the Filipino community following the incident at the Noblesville West Middle School in Hamilton County north of Indianapolis in the US.

No name has been disclosed but reports said the victims include a student and a teacher.

The suspect was also a student, who reportedly asked for permission to leave the classroom and returned armed with two handguns.

The Consulate General said the lone suspect was already taken into custody following Friday’s incident.

The DFA said the Filipino community in Indiana has approximately 17,000 members.