Canadian Prime Minister Reacts After B.C. School Attack Claims 9 Lives

At least nine people have been killed and 25 others injured after a school shooting in British Columbia, Western Canada.

Police received reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School around 1:20 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

The shooter died from a self-inflicted injury at the scene, and police believe there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Tumbler Ridge RCMP said in a statement that officers found six victims, not including the shooter, dead within the school, and a third died while being transported to hospital.

Two victims were airlifted to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries, and 25 others were assessed and triaged at the local medical centre for non‑life‑threatening injuries.

As part of the ongoing investigation, police identified a secondary location believed to be connected to the incident.

Two additional victims were found dead inside a home, with police conducting additional searches at further residences to determine whether anyone else may be injured or linked to the shooting.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superintendent Ken Floyd told reporters at a press conference that the shooter was female but did not release a name, according to Newsweek.

In an emergency alert sent to phones during the incident, the shooter was described as a "female in a dress with brown hair."

Grade 12 student Darian Quist told CBC News that he was in class when an alarm started to go off, alerting students and teachers that there was a lockdown.

"For a while I didn't think anything was going on, I thought it was just like maybe a secure and hold, but once everything started circulating we realized that something was wrong," he said.

"We got tables and barricaded the doors and I believe we sat in there for about two hours 30 minutes until members of the RCMP SWAT had come through the door and escorted us all out of the high school."

Quist said the incident mostly took place in the upper section of the high school and that he did not hear anything while in the far left end of the school.

"We were all very nervous so we tried to keep things light and just try and keep each other motivated and not fall into grief," he added. "But once people sent me photos it definitely set in what was actually happening."

Quist told the outlet that after seeing the "disturbing" photos, he was "pretty scared" and that they began to formulate an escape plan.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has canceled trips to Halifax, Nova Scotia and Munich, Germany, in the wake of the attack.

“I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence,” Carney wrote on X.

“I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens.

“Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country — our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other.”

Carney added, “I have connected with Premier Eby to express my condolences, and with the Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, who is coordinating the federal response.

“Our officials are in close contact with their counterparts to ensure the community is fully supported as best we can. The Government of Canada stands with all British Columbians as they confront this horrible tragedy.”