A shooting at a major Toronto mall on Thursday afternoon sent shoppers running for cover as police looked for multiple suspects.

No one was injured in the gunfire that police said took place on the east side of the Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

鈥淥fficers received a call for sound of gunshots and they confirmed it was discharge of a firearm and the mall was evacuated,鈥� said Const. Caroline de Kloet. 鈥淣obody is being let in or out at this time.鈥�

Police said two of the suspects were men in their 20s and one was believed to have a black handgun.

Crowds of shoppers gathered outside the mall as police cars, fire trucks and ambulances were seen in the parking lot.

鈥淲e were right beside what happened,鈥� one man told local television station CP24. 鈥淲hat we heard sounded like two gunshots. When we heard that everyone started scrambling.鈥�

Sounds of gunshots Officers have confirmed a discharge in the area. Mall is being evacuated. Avoid the area 1605887 ^ma

鈥� Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations)

One person was taken from the mall by paramedics but police noted that it was not as a direct result of the shots fired.

Police asked members of the public to avoid the area and asked witnesses to call them with information.

The mall issued a statement saying it was closed for the rest of the day while police investigated the incident.

鈥淵orkdale is secure and we are co-operating with police to safely evacuate the centre,鈥� it said. 鈥淲e expect to open as scheduled tomorrow.鈥�

The Toronto Transit Commission said subway trains were not stopping at the mall.

The incident at the mall comes after a string of high-profile shootings in the city, including a rampage that killed two in Toronto鈥檚 Greektown this summer and a brazen shooting at a playground that wounded two young girls earlier this year.

Toronto鈥檚 mayor said he was relieved no one was injured in the mall shooting.

鈥淲hether it is Yorkdale Mall or anywhere else in Toronto, people should not have to worry about gun violence breaking out,鈥� John Tory said in a statement. 鈥淭here are too many guns available to criminals in the city and I am determined to end that with the help of our police and our government partners.鈥�

The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .