At least 10 people were killed and 15 were injured in stabbings on Sunday in James Smith Cree Nation Territory and in the village of Weldon, northeast of Saskatoon, said the assistant commissioner of Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Rhonda Blackmore, at a press conference.
“Several other victims were injured, 15 of whom have so far been transported to various hospitals,” she added, adding that the police were looking for “two suspects” and investigating “the numerous crime scenes”.
The suspects have been identified, two men named Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson, aged 30 and 31, with black hair and brown eyes.
They allegedly fled in a black Nissan Rogue, Ms Blackmore said. Police forces were deployed “at their maximum” to arrest them.
“Today’s attacks in Saskatchewan are horrific and heartbreaking. Thinking of those who have lost loved ones and those who have been hurt,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter.
Police had received a first call at 5:40 a.m., reporting a stabbing on James Smith Cree Nation territory.
The locality, populated by 2,500 inhabitants, has declared a state of local emergency. Saskatchewan residents have also been asked to stay home for safety.
Weldon resident Diane Shier told The Canadian Press that her neighbor, who lived with her grandson, was killed. “I am very affected, because I lost a good neighbour,” she confided.
“Critical Patients”
Authorities believe that “some of the victims were targeted by the suspects and others were randomly attacked,” Shier said, stressing that it was too early to discuss the motive for the attacks.
The suspects were first reported in Regina, the provincial capital located more than 300 kilometers to the south. The alert and search then spread to the neighboring provinces of Manitoba and Alberta.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority told AFP that it had activated emergency protocols to deal with “a high number of critical patients”.
“We can confirm that multiple people are being directed and supported across multiple sites and a call for additional staff to help respond to this situation has been made,” she added.
Three helicopters and a medic were dispatched from Saskatoon and Regina to transport the stab victims.
– With The Canadian Press