Canada stabbings: Police launch manhunt after killing spree in Saskatchewan leaves 10 dead

A series of stabbings in two communities in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan left 10 people dead and 15 wounded, authorities said on Sunday.
By Stephen Mcilkenny
Published 5th Sep 2022, 07:23 BST
Updated 5th Sep 2022, 07:23 BST

Police are looking for two suspects, named as Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson, who are on the run and considered armed and dangerous.

The stabbings took place in several locations on the James Smith Cree Nation and in the village of Weldon, north-east of Saskatoon, police said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rhonda Blackmore, assistant commissioner of the RCMP Saskatchewan, said some of the victims appear to have been targeted by the suspects, but others appear to have been attacked at random.

Investigators examine the ground at the scene of a stabbing in Weldon, Saskatchewan on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022. A series of stabbings at an Indigenous community and at another in the village of Weldon left multiple people dead and others wounded, Canadian police said Sunday as they searched for two suspects. (Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press via AP)Investigators examine the ground at the scene of a stabbing in Weldon, Saskatchewan on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022. A series of stabbings at an Indigenous community and at another in the village of Weldon left multiple people dead and others wounded, Canadian police said Sunday as they searched for two suspects. (Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press via AP)
Investigators examine the ground at the scene of a stabbing in Weldon, Saskatchewan on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022. A series of stabbings at an Indigenous community and at another in the village of Weldon left multiple people dead and others wounded, Canadian police said Sunday as they searched for two suspects. (Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press via AP)

She could not provide a motive.

“It is horrific what has occurred in our province today,” Ms Blackmore said.

She said there are 13 crime scenes where either dead or injured people were found.

The search for suspects was carried out as fans descended on nearby Regina for a sold-out game between the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

This combination of images shown during a press conference at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "F" Division headquarters in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, shows Damien Sanderson, left, and Myles Sanderson. Authorities identified the pair, who are presently at large, as suspects in a series of stabbings in two communities in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan that left multiple people dead and others wounded. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police via AP)This combination of images shown during a press conference at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "F" Division headquarters in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, shows Damien Sanderson, left, and Myles Sanderson. Authorities identified the pair, who are presently at large, as suspects in a series of stabbings in two communities in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan that left multiple people dead and others wounded. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police via AP)
This combination of images shown during a press conference at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "F" Division headquarters in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, shows Damien Sanderson, left, and Myles Sanderson. Authorities identified the pair, who are presently at large, as suspects in a series of stabbings in two communities in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan that left multiple people dead and others wounded. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police via AP)
Read More
US police say pilot 'threatening to crash plane into a Walmart'

The Regina Police Service that with the help of the Mounties, they were working on several fronts to locate and arrest the suspects and had “deployed additional resources for public safety throughout the city, including the football game at Mosaic Stadium”.

Checkpoints have been set up across the central Saskatchewan province, with residents urged to shelter indoors.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority said patients were being treated at several sites.

Canadian police say multiple people are dead in 13 locations at two communities in Saskatchewan.Canadian police say multiple people are dead in 13 locations at two communities in Saskatchewan.
Canadian police say multiple people are dead in 13 locations at two communities in Saskatchewan.

“A call for additional staff was issued to respond to the influx of casualties,” authority spokeswoman Anne Linemann said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mark Oddan, ambulance service spokesman, said two helicopters were dispatched from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and another from Regina.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the attacks as "horrific and heartbreaking".

"I am shocked and devastated by the horrific attacks today," he said in a statement. "Those responsible for today's abhorrent attacks must be fully brought to justice."

A state of emergency was declared in the James Smith Cree Nation - an community of about 2,000 residents north-east of the village of Weldon, which is home to just 200 people.

"Do not leave a secure location. Use caution allowing others into your residence," Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) warned people across the vast search area.