A Toronto GO bus.MARK BLINCH/Reuters
York Regional Police responded to a call about a potential threat at Newmarket Bus Terminal Friday afternoon when a man dressed in military garb with a plastic assault rifle and fake grenades strapped to his body got on a bus bound for Union Station.
Two police officers boarded the full bus at the GO bus terminal in Newmarket, Ont., shortly after 2 p.m. The first officer had his firearm drawn as he told the passengers at the front to get off the bus immediately.
Despite telling the bus driver he did not have live ammunition when asked while boarding, a man on the platform was not convinced the bus was safe and called the police.
He said he worried that the weapons may not be fake and that the man could have been "on a mission."
The police cleared the bus and arrested the man.
Police allege the 25-year-old had restricted knives and nunchucks, which are banned, along with a quantity of drugs.
"We're investigating the circumstances behind this. I believe he mentioned something about possibly being on his way to a costume event in Toronto, but whether or not that's legitimate is hard to say at this time," said Sergeant Clint Whitney.
Sgt. Whitney said no one was injured.
"It just seems to be a strange situation and we got some calls from some concerned citizens," he said. "I'm glad that it's come to a peaceful end because in this day and age, you just never know."
With files from Jill Mahoney