Ten people are dead after a woman opened fire at a high school and a home in western Canada before turning the gun on herself, police said.
Seven people were found dead on Tuesday inside a high school, including the suspect, in the town of Tumbler Ridge in British Columbia, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said.
Two more people were found dead at a residence believed to be connected to the incident, and another person died on the way to hospital.
Police said the suspect was a woman and confirmed that an active shooter alert describing the shooter “as female in a dress with brown hair” was accurate.
At least two other people were hospitalised with serious or life-threatening injuries and as many as 25 people were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
The attack is one of the country’s deadliest mass casualty events in recent history.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was devastated by the “horrific shootings”.
“My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence,” he said.
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd said police had identified the shooter but would not release a name.
The suspect’s motive remained unclear.
“We are not in a place to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy,” Superintendent Floyd said.
Ken Floyd confirmed the shooter was a woman. (Reuters: Royal Canadian Mounted Police)
He said police were still investigating how the victims were connected to the shooter.
“As part of the initial response to the active shooting, police entered the school to locate the threat. During the search, officers located multiple victims,” RCMP said in a statement.
Police earlier said officers were working to determine whether a second suspect was involved.
“This was a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation, and the swift cooperation from the school, first responders, and the community played a critical role in our response,” Superintendent Floyd said.
“Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and all those impacted by this tragic incident.”
The RCMP asked residents of Tumbler Ridge, which has a population of about 2,400 people, to stay inside as additional police resources were being deployed from neighbouring areas.
The Peace River South School District said there was a “lockdown and secure and hold” at both the secondary school and Tumbler Ridge Elementary School.
Larry Neufeld, the member of the legislature for Peace River South, told reporters that an “excess” of resources, including RCMP and ambulance support, had been sent to the community.
He said he did not want to release any more information over concerns that it might jeopardise the safety of the ongoing operation.
He urged those in the community to stay where they are.
“We do understand that a few folks are out looking for loved ones, and again, please, please go back to your homes and shelter in place and allow the amazing people of the RCMP to make this community, this beautiful community, safe again,” Mr Neufeld said.
Tumbler Ridge is more than 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver, near the border with Alberta.
The provincial government website lists Tumbler Ridge Secondary School as having 175 students from grades 7 to 12.
AP/Reuters