“I am absolutely horrified. Toronto has seen too much violence against women and it must stop,” he said.
In a written statement, Toronto Mayor John Tory expressed his shock at the stabbings, “like all Torontonians.”
“We can never accept acts of violence of this kind happening anywhere in our city,” said Tory. “My thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who has lost her life. We hope for the quick recovery of another woman who is in hospital with injuries.”
Tory also said he plans to meet with the TTC and police to discuss ways to improve safety for riders.
“Our transit system should always be a safe place for everyone at all times. We will simply have to sit down again with the TTC and police officials to see what more we can do to ensure the safety of TTC passengers beyond the many measures the TTC has put in place,” he said.
TTC spokesperson Stuart Green insisted that the TTC is still safe to ride.
“Safety of customers and employees is paramount to all the TTC does,” he said. “The TTC moves hundreds of millions of customers every year without incident, but is constantly looking at ways to improve safety.”
He also expressed condolences in a written statement.
“The thoughts of everyone at the TTC are with the victims and their families, friends and loved ones at this difficult time,” said Green, adding that TTC CEO Rick Leary spoke to police Chief James Ramer in the wake of the incident.
A video circulating online and posted by some media websites appears to show police attempting to take the attacker into custody, shouting at the man to get down on the ground. Nervous commuters are seen watching from a distance.
In July, 28-year-old Nyima Dolma died of injuries suffered a month earlier when she was doused with a flammable liquid and then set on fire in a TTC bus outside of Kipling Station.
In April, a woman narrowly missed being struck by a train after getting shoved onto the tracks at Bloor-Yonge station.
Subway service had been halted Thursday between Keele and Jane stations, with shuttle buses running instead. Buses were not stopping near High Park station.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.