Nine killed and 25 injured in shootings at school and home in Canada

Canada is reeling after a deadly shooting in British Columbia that left nine people dead and at least 25 others injured, in an incident that has shaken a small, close-knit community and prompted an outpouring of national solidarity.

Police say the attacker killed nine people before taking their own life on Tuesday. Six victims were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, while a seventh person later died on the way to hospital. The body of the attacker was also discovered at the school. In addition, two more people were found dead inside a nearby residence, confirming that the violence extended beyond the school grounds.

An active shooter alert sent to the local community described the suspect as a “female in a dress with brown hair”. Authorities have not yet released further details about the individual as investigations continue.

Emergency services reported that at least two people were taken to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries. As many as 25 others were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, highlighting the scale of the response now underway to support survivors and their families.

Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, said he was “devastated” by the attack and expressed full support for those affected. He confirmed that his government “stands with all British Columbians as they confront this horrible tragedy”. In a sign of the seriousness of the moment, the prime minister cancelled his planned trip to the Munich Security Conference in order to focus on the national response.

British Columbia’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Nina Krieger, praised the rapid actions of law enforcement, saying police arrived at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School within two minutes of receiving reports of an active shooter.

“This is a small, tight-knit community,” Krieger said, as she thanked responding officers “for their courage, for their dedication and professionalism”. She added that their swift intervention “no doubt saved lives today”, underlining the importance of preparedness and rapid response in moments of crisis.

Earlier, Krieger said the “devastating events are sending shockwaves through the community and the entire province”, as grief counsellors, medical teams and support services were mobilised to help those affected.