Man in custody after 'suspicious' explosion at Vaughan cafe

'Suspicious' explosion at Vaughan social club Police are calling an explosion in Vaughan 'suspicious' as an investigation is underway. John Musselman reports.

One man is in custody following what police are calling a “suspicious” explosion at a café in Vaughan this morning.

Police in York Region arrived at Caffé Corretto on 120 Winges Road, near Weston Road and Highway 7, shortly before 5:30 a.m. to find the building partially collapsed.

Video from the CTV News Chopper shows the eastside of the plaza building blown out with bricks and debris covering a vehicle.

Const. Andy Pattenden said one person was taken to hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. That person, identified as a 33-year-old man, is currently being considered a suspect.

Investigators are treating the explosion as “suspicious in nature.”

Vaughan Fire Service’s Deputy Chief Deryn Rizzi told CP24 that two 9-1-1 calls were made this morning about the Winges Road plaza. The first came in at around 5 a.m. and claimed that a car had slammed into a building. The second was about a fire inside an oven at the Caffé Corretto.

“When they arrived on scene, they attempted to make entry. We did make limited entry and did a limited primary search (of the building). We weren’t able to make a complete primary search because there are areas of the building that are impeded,” Rizzi said, adding that no one was found inside upon that search.

“The roof is unstable at this time and we did put out a fire in the kitchen area.”

She said York Regional Police were already in the area at the time of the explosion for an unrelated matter, which is why they were the first at the scene.

Rizzi added that it’s too early to suggest potential causes for the explosion and that YRP are still investigating.

A witness told CP24 that he was pulling into the plaza when he heard a booming noise.

“At around 5 o’clock, I was approaching to get into the plzaza and I heard a big loud noise. I thought it was a thunderstorm,” Sabastian, who did not provide his last name, said. “Then the police blocked me and I couldn’t get in.”

The Ontario Fire Marshal has been notified.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed or been in the area at the time of the incident to call them or Crime Stoppers. Investigators are also seeking surveillance camera footage from the area.