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Toronto

Here's what we know about the victims of the van attack in Toronto

Toronto police are appealing to the public for help identifying the victims of a van attack Monday that left 10 people dead and at least 14 injured. The first victim identified, on Tuesday, was Anne Marie D'Amico.

Coroner balancing 'desire to know quickly' with need to 'ensure that we have 100% accuracy'

Anne Marie D'Amico, who worked for an investment management firm, was one of 10 people killed in the van attack on Monday afternoon in Toronto. (Facebook)

Toronto police are appealing to the public for help identifyingthe victims of a van attack that left 10 people dead and at least 14 injured on Monday.

AlekMinassian, 25, wascharged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.

Ontario's chief coroner said Tuesday thatidentifying the victims "is our No. 1 priority."

Dr. Dirk Huyer said there were three coroners at the scene Monday, and there are currentlyforensic pathologists, forensic anthropologists, coroners, dentists and scientists all working together to identify the victims.

Families are starting to confirm the names of the dead, but the coroner said itcould be days before the names of the dead are confirmed by officials.

Coroner says it will take time to ID victims

6 years ago
Duration 2:42
Ontarios chief coroner identifying the victims is the "number one" priority

Huyer said it's imperative"to ensure that we're completely accurate when we do this so we're always balancing the need to know and the desire to know quickly, to ensure that we have 100 per cent accuracy and that takes time."

He said he knows the wait can be frustratingbut that tragedies of this scale are challenging and require diligence and caution.

"It's far different, for example, than somebody found in their house deceased."

The victims ranged in age from mid-20s to 80s, said homicideDet.-Sgt. Graham Gibson, the lead investigator in the case.

Here's what we know so far about the victims.

Dorothy Sewell

Dorothy Sewell, 80, was an avid sports fan and never missed a Blue Jays game, her grandson said Tuesday. (Elwood Delaney)

Dorothy Sewell, 80, was confirmed to be among the dead by her grandson, Elwood Delaney.

"She was the foundation for all things sports here in our family,that's for sure," Delaneytold CBC Toronto.

When she and Delaney talked, she always asked about the kids and, without fail, sports.

"She loved her Maple Leafs;she loved her Blue Jays. I don't think she ever missed a Blue Jays game," Delaney said.

Delaney, who lives in B.C. but was born and raised in Calgary, said his grandma never missed a chance totalk sports.

"If there was an important game on, she would call me, even with the three-hour difference in Toronto time,and she would still call me and say, 'Did you see that goal?'"

Sewell worked at Sears for yearsandvolunteered helping other seniors. On the day she died, she was on her way to the bank, he said.

Delaney described Sewell asthe "best grandma you could ask for" and said he has been feelinga mix of "pure anger and then sadness" since learning how she died.

Anne MarieD'Amico

Anne MarieD'Amicowas the first victim to be identified,a day after the attack.

D'Amicowas an employee atInvesco, a U.S.-based investment management firm. Her next of kinhave been notified.

Invesco'sCanadian headquarters are onYongeStreet, between Sheppard and Finch avenues, close tothe nearly one-kilometre stretch ofYongewhere pedestrians were struck with thewhite rental van.

In a statement to CBC News, the D'Amico family described Anne Marie as having 'a generous heart.' (Facebook)

Rob Greco, a bystander who called 911, assisted D'Amicoat the scene.

"She was the last person that I saw get hit by the van," he told CBCNews. "I was just telling Anne Marie to be brave, help is on the way."

He helped paramedics apply gauze to her wounds and accompanied her until she was taken away by ambulance.

"I moved her hair away from her face so it [didn't] get in the way of her breathing."

Jon Tam was a colleague of Anne Marie D'Amico, a victim of the Toronto van attack

6 years ago
Duration 0:25
Tam says D'Amico was a 'very happy person, always smiling'

In a statement to CBCNews, theD'Amicofamily described her as having "a generous heart." She "always did big things for people," the statement said.

"She wouldn't stop until she went the extra mile for others. She genuinely wanted to care for all those around her even if it meant sacrificing a portion of herself in return for others' happiness. She only had kindness in her.

"Her name has been broadcastaround the world, attached to this terrible tragedy. But we want everyone to know that she embodied the definition of altruism.

Watch takedown of person believed to be suspect in Toronto van attack

6 years ago
Duration 1:13
"Kill me," the man can be heard yelling as Toronto police arrested him

"It comforts us knowing that the world has a chance to know her and we hope that in this time, people fight with the same altruism rather than anger and hatred. We ask that at this time yourespect our family's privacy as we come to terms with this tragic news."

Peter Intraligi, president of Invesco Canada, confirmed D'Amico's death in an emailed statement.

"Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all those impacted by this tragic event," Intraligisaid. "I can now confirm that unfortunately one of our employees has succumbed to her injuries. Out of respect for her and her family, we will not be providing any further comments."

This undated image provided by Tennis Canada shows Anne Marie D'Amico. (Tennis Canada via AP)

Jon Tam, one ofD'Amico's co-workers atInvesco, said she was "full of life, loved to travel, loved to help volunteer."

He said the office has been devastated by the news that D'Amico is among the victims.

"She was a very warm, friendly presence in the office. Always smiling,"he said in an interview withCBC'sMetro Morning."I'll definitely be missing seeing that smile around the office."

D'Amicowas an avid tennis fan and had volunteered at tournaments.

"Her passion was contagious, and we are honoured to let the world know what an amazing person she was and the great things she did for others," Tennis Canadasaid in a statement on Tuesday.

South Korean, Jordanian citizens

Multiple South Korean media outlets reported that two Korean nationals are among the dead.

The neighbourhood where the attack took place is home to a large Korean community.

Yonhap news agency said twonationals were dead and another seriously injured, citing a South Korean government official.

It was also reportedthat three Koreans had not been accounted for since the van attack.

In a tweet, South Korea's Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that two nationals were killed.

CBCNews has not independentlyverified the reporting.

Separately, theJordanian Embassy confirmed to CBCNews that one of Jordan'scitizens was among those killed. It did not release the name of the deceased, but Jordanian media citing the Foreign Ministry identified him asMunirAbduHabibAl-Najjar.

Mayor John Tory said there's been a "great deal" of generosity after the attack.He said the City of Toronto has partnered with the Toronto Foundation and will launch a#torontostrongfund tohelp co-ordinatedonations.

Anyone missing a friend or family member is asked to call Toronto police at416-808-8085.

With files from CBC's Derick Keshav Deonarain