Eight teenage girls who apparently met on social media have been charged with murder after a man was stabbed to death in Toronto. 

Investigators allege the girls assaulted and stabbed the 59-year-old man in the Canadian city’s downtown district early on Sunday morning.

Medics took the man to hospital where he died.

According to police, three 13-year-old girls, three girls aged 14 and two girls aged 16 were arrested near where the attack happened.

Detective Sergeant Terry Browne said investigators think the girls were trying to take a bottle of alcohol from the man.

He said they were all “equally culpable”.

“There is no doubt in our minds that they were all working as a singular entity in a swarming mob mentality when they chose to attack this man,” DS Browne added.

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He said a number of weapons were seized, but declined to say what kind. He also said three of the girls had prior encounters with the police.

The girls met on social media but DS Browne said police “don’t know how or why they met on that evening”.

“It’s bizarre that they would all have hooked up together and found their way to downtown Toronto. Their primary residences are all over the place,” he said.

“I’ve been in policing for almost 35 years and you think you’ve seen it all,” DS Browne said.

“Anyone who isn’t shocked with hearing something like this has clearly just thrown in the towel and just said that anything is possible in this world.

“Eight young girls and most under the age of 16. If this isn’t alarming and shocking to everyone, then we’re all in trouble quite frankly.”

DS Browne said police have spoken to the parents of the teens.

“I can tell you it was a shock to find out that their children were involved in an event like this,” he said.

The victim was living in a homeless shelter and has not yet been named, DS Browne said.

He added that they would investigate whether “swarming” had seen a resurgence in popularity on social media.

The officer said 20 or 30 years ago, young teen boys in Toronto would swarm others and try to steal Dr Martens boots or Air Jordan shoes but that trend faded away.

Canadian authorities cannot release the girls’ names because they are underage. They have made their first court appearance and remain in custody.

The girls’ next court appearance is on 29 December.

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