Ten people have died and 15 others were hospitalized in a series of stabbings in Canada’s Saskatchewan province, police said Sunday.
Two suspects were at large, and residents of the province were told by authorities to consider sheltering in place.
The attacks, which took place Sunday morning in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, involved 13 separate locations, with at least 15 people being treated at hospitals, officials said at a news conference Sunday.
It was possible there are more victims who took private vehicles to seek treatment, authorities said.
Rhonda Blackmore, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP, said it was one of the worst, if not the worst, mass killings in the province’s history.
“We believe some of the victims have been targeted by the suspects and others have been attacked randomly,” she said at a news conference Sunday afternoon.
Authorities named Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 30, as wanted suspects. The two were believed to be traveling in a black Nissan Rogue SUV with Saskatchewan plate identification 119 MPI.
RMCP believes a sighting in Saskatchewan’s capital, Regina, is legitimate. That report was fielded around “lunchtime,” one police official said at the news conference.
Residents were told not to approach them but rather to call authorities immediately. Damian Sanderson is 5 feet, 7 inches and 155 pounds; Myles Sanderson is 6 feet, 1 inch and 240 pounds. Each has dark hair.
“If Damian and Myles are listening or receive this information, I would ask that they turn themselves in to police immediately,” Blackmore said.
A dangerous persons alert was in effect for Saskatchewan and the neighboring provinces of Alberta and Manitoba.
“We can’t say with 100 percent certainty where they are right now,” Blackmore said.
RMCP and provincial authorities were investigating the attacks. Motive was not clear.
The Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders said security was beefed up for Sunday’s home game in Regina.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Suzanne Ciechalski, Courtney Brogle and Claudia Johnson contributed.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
