Canadian authorities have confirmed that at least ten people, including the suspected attacker, died in a mass shooting that, according to initial information, was aimed at a high school in the town of Tumbler Ridge in northern British Columbia. More than twenty people were hospitalized, and the tragedy shook the whole country and is already counted among the deadliest incidents of its kind in Canadian history, reports The Guardian.
Details of the attack: multiple locations, numerous victims
At an emergency press conference, police said six people were found dead inside the Tumbler Ridge School building, which is attended by students in grades seven through 12. One person died during transport to the hospital, while two more victims were found in a residence in this small town of less than 2,500 residents. The suspected attacker was found dead with what were said to be self-inflicted injuries.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Northern District Commander, Superintendent Ken Floyd, described the scene as “extremely dramatic,” with a large number of injuries and a difficult scene. About 100 students and school staff members who were in the school at the time of the attack were successfully evacuated and transferred to safety.
Police have confirmed that the identity of the attacker is known, but additional details have not been released to protect privacy and the integrity of the investigation. The motive for the attack is currently unknown. “We are following all leads to establish a connection to the attacker. We may face difficulties in trying to understand ‘why,’ but we will do our best to reconstruct exactly what happened,” Floyd stated.
Quick reaction of the police and emergency services
After the first reports of gunfire, authorities issued an emergency alert about an active shooter and urged residents to stay in their homes, lock their doors, and not go outside. The alert included a description of the suspect as a brown-haired woman wearing a dress. The alert was lifted at 17:45 local time.
British Columbia Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said police arrived at the scene within two minutes of receiving the call. “Speed and professionalism saved lives today,” she emphasized, adding that the shooting sent “shock waves through the community and the entire province.”
Due to the scale of the tragedy, the local health center has been placed on a “Code Orange” status, which indicates a mass casualty or major emergency. Given the rural character of the community, at least two victims were transferred by helicopter to larger hospital centers. Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) confirmed that one of its planes from Grande Prairie, Alberta was sent to the scene.
Reactions of the state leadership: “Unimaginable tragedy”
British Columbia Premier David Eby called the tragedy “unthinkable” and one of the deadliest in Canadian history. As a father of three children, he pointed out that such news “makes parents hug their children even tighter”.
“Enwrap these families in love — not just tonight, but tomorrow and for years to come. This is something that will resonate for a long time,” Eby said, adding that it’s the kind of event that many think is happening “somewhere else, not here, close to home.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “devastated” by the shooting and expressed his solidarity with the families whose lives have been irrevocably changed. “We are grateful for the courage and selflessness of emergency responders who risked their own lives to protect others,” said Carney, noting that the ability of Canadians to come together in times of crisis shows the best face of the country – empathy, unity and compassion. His office confirmed that he had canceled a planned trip to Germany for the Munich Security Conference due to the tragedy.
Community in shock: “We’ll get through this together”
The municipality of Tumbler Ridge described the shooting as a “deeply disturbing incident” and urged citizens to support each other in the days ahead. “We know it will be difficult for many to process what has happened. Please check in with your loved ones, use the forms of support available, and remember that Tumbler Ridge is a strong and caring community. We will get through this together,” the statement said.
The school’s Parent Advisory Council pointed out that there are no words that can ease the fear and pain that such events cause in the school community, but emphasized that the safety and well-being of students and staff is a priority. Both schools – both middle and elementary – will remain closed until the end of the week.
Although details are still limited, the Tumbler Ridge attack is already among the worst cases of mass violence in Canada. The country has strict gun control laws, which include significant restrictions on the ownership of handguns and “assault-type” weapons, so incidents like this are less common than in the United States.
This is the second deadliest school shooting in Canadian history. In 1989, a gunman killed 14 female students at Montreal Polytechnic in an attack targeting women, while in 2016, five people were killed in La Loche, Saskatchewan, in a series of school-related attacks.
The tragedy at Tumbler Ridge left a deep scar on the small community and the entire country. As the investigation continues, Canada faces grief, unanswered questions and a long process of recovery from events that officials said will “resonate for years.”
(TYPE/Source: federalna.ba/Photo: X)
