Nine people are dead and 16 more are injured after a vehicle hit a number of pedestrians in Toronto.

The incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. PST near the intersection of Yonge Street and Finch Avenue in the Toronto area of North York. Police have said that the vehicle involved was a white rental van.

In a message posted on Twitter, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale described the event as an "attack".

"Grateful for the brave and professional response of @TorontoPolice and other first responders to the horrific attack at Yonge and Finch," he wrote. "Canadians are appalled at what happened. The victims and their families have our deepest condolences."

At the time of writing, authorities had released nothing more about the assailant or his motive.

At approximately 12:30 p.m. PST, police confirmed reports that they had located the driver of the van and taken him into police custody.

"The van involved in multiple pedestrians stuck in the Yonge and Finch area of Toronto has been located and the driver arrested," reads a message on the Toronto Police department's Twitter account.

Videos posted on social media show a man exiting a white van a few blocks away from where the original incident occurred. He pointed an object at a police officer. The man was subsequently apprehended without either of them firing a weapon.

So far police have not released any additional personal information about the suspect or speculated on his motive.

B.C. premier John Horgan expressed support for Toronto with a message posted on social media.

"Our hearts are with the people of Toronto today," he wrote. "This was a senseless attack, and we offer our deepest sympathies for the victims and their families."

Toronto mayor John Tory issued a brief statement.

"There has been a very tragic incident at Yonge St. and Finch Ave," it begins.

"My thoughts are with those affected by this incident and the frontline responders who are working to help those injured," the statement continues.

https://twitter.com/TorontoComms/status/988536906035159040

"I have spoken with [police] Chief [Mark] Saunders and my office is being updated by Toronto fire, EMS, TTC and the acting city manager....I have offered any and all assistance that the city can provide to police to help this investigation."