At least ten people have been killed, including the shooter, a woman, who opened fire at a school in British Columbia, Canada, while two other people were found dead in a house that Canadian authorities believe is linked to the attack.
The shooting at Tumbler Ridge High School left more than 25 people injured, including two with life-threatening injuries, according to Canadian police, reports the Telegraph.
"Six other people, not including the suspect, were found deceased inside the school. Two victims were transported by helicopter to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries. A third victim died while being transported to hospital," RCMP said in a statement.
Speaking to reporters, Ken Floyd said investigators knew the identity of the shooter but would not release a name, however the reason for the shooting remains unclear.
"We are unable to understand why or what could have motivated this tragedy," Floyd said, the Telegraph reports.
Floyd added that police are still investigating how the victims are connected to the attacker.
"As part of the initial response to the active shooter, police entered the school to locate the threat. During the search, officers found multiple victims. An individual believed to be the perpetrator of the attack was also found deceased with what appears to be a self-inflicted injury," the RCMP said in a statement.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and stated that the government "is in close contact with the competent authorities to ensure that the community is fully supported as best as possible."
"I am devastated by today's horrific shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. My deepest prayers and condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones in these horrific acts of violence," he wrote in a post on X.
"Our ability to come together in crisis is the best thing about our country - our empathy, our unity and our compassion for each other," he added.
Both Tumbler Ridge High School and Elementary School were placed on "isolation, security and containment," the Peace River South District said earlier Tuesday.
According to Larry Neufeld, the member of parliament for Peace River South, a "redundancy" of resources, including RCMP and ambulance support, were deployed to the community, without providing further information on concerns about compromising the safety of the ongoing operation.
Previously, the RCMP had issued a police emergency alert warning of an active person with a firearm, however this has now been cancelled.
Unlike Canada's neighboring country, the United States, school shootings are rare.
The small town of Tumble Ridge is located more than 1,000 kilometers north of Vancouver, near Alberta. According to the provincial government website, Tumbler Ridge High School is listed with 175 students in grades 7 to 12. /Telegraph/
