'We apologize': Toronto-area police suspend Twitter account after hack

A smartphone display shows the Twitter logo in Berlin, Germany on Feb. 2, 2013. (AP / Soeren Stache)

BRAMPTON, Ont. -- A Toronto-area police force says its Twitter account was hacked Monday night and had to be temporarily shut down.

Insp. Dan Richardson of Peel Regional police tweeted around 9 p.m. that the force's main account had been hacked.

He tweeted about an hour later that police had "regained control" of the account and would be reactivating it Tuesday.

It had not been restored as of 9:30 a.m.

Photos posted online showed the account tweeting profanities and racial slurs on Monday night before it was suspended.

"The posts that were made during this time do not represent the beliefs or views of Peel Regional Police," the force said in a statement.

"We apologize for this inconvenience and we are investigating this incident."