Two Dead After Toronto Barbecue 'Gunfight'

A teenage girl was one of two people killed during a gunfight that left several others injured at a barbecue in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said at least 19 people, including a child, were also hurt during the shootings and the mass panic that ensued at the large outdoor party in the city's east end.

The teenage girl and a man aged around 20 both died after they were hit during the apparent exchange of fire.

Mr Blair called the incident a "tremendously frightening and tragic event".

"I've been a cop for 35 years and this is the worst incident of gun violence in my memory anywhere in North America," he said.

"An altercation broke out among some individuals and there was an exchange of gunfire.

"During that gunfire, a number of innocent bystanders were struck. I am advised that there are two individuals who have been pronounced dead as a result of the gunfire which took place."

Mr Blair said there appeared to have been more than one person who fired shots, and that police had at least one "person of interest" in custody.

He did not provide the age of the child who was injured but said their injuries were "not life-threatening and the child will be fine".

The shooting took place after an altercation before midnight at the gathering. It was previously reported that a 12-year-old girl was among those hurt.

It has raised fresh fears over gun crime in the city, coming barely six weeks after a shooting at a shopping centre that killed one and wounded six.