What we’re covering here
- Canadian authorities are hunting for twosuspects in connection to a mass stabbing Sunday that left at least 10 dead and 15 injured at multiple scenes in an Indigenous community and the surrounding area in Saskatchewan.
- The suspects, identified as Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson, are believed to be traveling in a black Nissan Rogue with Saskatchewan license plate 119 MPI, police said. They are described as “armed and dangerous.”
- Some of the victims appear to have been targeted, while others are believed to have been attacked randomly, police said.
Here’s what we know so far about how the attacks unfolded
A police forensics team investigates a crime scene in Weldon, Saskatchewan, on Sunday. (David Stobbe/Reuters) Police received the first report of a stabbingon the James Smith Cree Nation at 5:40 a.m. on Sunday morning, and within minutes several more calls came in reporting other stabbings throughout the community, police said.
Within hours, the situation developed into a mass stabbing event with at least 25 victims, 10 of whom died, police said.
Three helicopters from STARS Air Ambulance were dispatched to James Smith Cree Nation during the attack, company spokesperson Mark Oddan told CNN. The first crew to arrive jumped into triage the victims and the second aircraft brought a physician to help with triage and lead the emergency response, he said.
The helicopter crews took some victims to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon and several other patients were brought to local hospitals by ground ambulances, Oddan said. He was not able to provide details on the patients or their conditions.
Multiple dangerous persons alerts were issued by police over the course of the morning, expanding across the Saskatchewan province and into neighboring Manitoba and Alberta.
Canadian Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicinoaskedresidents to take shelter.
“To everyone in Saskatchewan, especially those in proximity to the James Smith Cree First Nation area, please shelter in place and stay safe,” he tweeted.
Authorities have identified 13 separate scenes where the attacks took place.
There may be additional victims who were injured and transported themselves to the hospital, police said, urging possible victims to contact law enforcement.
“Our thoughts are with the many victims deceased and injured, their family, friends and community. It is horrific what has occurred in our province today,” Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Rhonda Blackmore said.
Authorities are urging residents in the Saskatchewan area to remain vigilant and take precautions
From CNN’s Artemis Moshtaghian
Canada’s Minister of Public Safety tweeted Sunday afternoon advising Canadians in Saskatchewan to “shelter in place” as the manhunt for two individualsin Canada is underway.
“To everyone in Saskatchewan, especially those in proximity to the James Smith Cree First Nation area, please shelter in place and stay safe,” Marco Mendicino tweeted.
Mendicino said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Saskatchewan is addressing the situation.
Scott Moe, premier of Saskatchewan, offered his condolences to the people of the provincetweeting, “There are no words to adequately describe the pain and loss caused by this senseless violence. All of Saskatchewan grieves with the victims and their families.”
Saskatchewan Province’s Emergency Public Alerting system has listed the manhunt as a“Civil Emergency” warning residents in the Regina area to “take precautions.”
Canadian prime minister calls Saskatchewan stabbings “horrific and heartbreaking”
From CNN’s Artemis Moshtaghian
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his concern about the stabbings in Saskatchewan on Sunday, describing them in a tweet as “horrific and heartbreaking.”
“I’m thinking of those who have lost a loved one and of those who were injured,” the prime minister said.
“We are closely monitoring the situation, and urge everyone to follow updates from local authorities,” Trudeau tweeted. “Thank you to all the brave first responders for their efforts on the ground.”
Here’s what we know about the suspectsDamien Sanderson, left, and Myles Sanderson (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Less than three hours after the first attack was reported, police identified Damian Sanderson and Myles Sanderson as suspects in the stabbing spree.
Damien Sanderson, 31, is described by authorities as 5-feet-7 inches tall and 155 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Myles Sanderson, 30, is 6-feet-1-inch tall and 240 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, according to police.
Officials haven’t said whether the pair are related.
The vehicle they are believed to be driving was reportedly spotted around 11:45 a.m. in Regina, police said.Regina is more than 300 kilometers (about 186 miles) south of the James Smith Cree Nation.
“This is why we need everyone in the province to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity by calling 911 immediately,” Blackmore said in a statement Sunday. “If you see the suspects and/or their vehicle, do not approach them or their vehicle, immediately leave the area, and call 911.”
In a message to the two suspects, Blackmore said, “If Damien and Myles are listening or receive this information, I would ask that they turn themselves into police immediately.”
CNN
