Looting in Toronto, Ottawa

2003-08-15 15:56

Montreal - Power was slowly returning early on Friday to Toronto and Ottawa, the two major Canadian cities hit by a massive blackout, after a night that saw some isolated looting and a total of 40 arrests, police said.

In Toronto, Canada's financial capital, home to about four million people, there were 38 arrests linked to the power outage, said constable Mike Hayes, a city police spokesperson.

Most of the arrests were for smash-and-grab incidents or looting of stores, he said, adding: "We are doing pretty well."

In Ottawa, the federal capital, police reported just two arrests, but had 115 reports of alarms being activated, including 26 at stores, said police spokesperson Leo Janveau, who acknowledged 22 looting incidents.

Ontario was the only Canadian province hit by the blackout, which also plunged millions in the northeastern and midwestern United States into darkness.

- AFP