University of Toronto on lockdown as police search for 'suspicious person'

TORONTO, June 13 (UPI) -- The University of Toronto's downtown St. George campus was on lockdown Monday as police investigated a "suspicious person" on the campus.

The person was dressed in black and appeared to be wearing a surgical mask, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said.

Police received two calls within 20 minutes Monday morning about seeing a "suspicious person" at the university's Trinity College building.

One person said the person's face was covered and another said he had a gun.

Police are trying to determine whether the second report was a police officer or a suspicious person.

"There are security cameras that are around," said Saunders. "We're working in conjunction with the U of T police and we're trying to put the pieces together."

A smartphone photo of the "suspicious person" shows a male dressed in all black with a black backpack and surgical mask, Saunders said.

"We have not seen a picture of any firearms at this point in time," said Saunders. "There have been a few people who have said they've seen a suspicious person that fits the likeness of the photo that was shown to me."

Police are treating the situation seriously even though the reports have not been confirmed, spokeswoman Allyson Douglas-Cook said.

The university urged everyone to remain inside their buildings on campus.

Trinity College is a small academic college "at the heart of a great university," according to the University of Toronto website.