Canada stabbing attacks: 10 dead in Saskatchewan, suspects at large

“It appears that some of the victims may have been targeted and some may be random,” Rhonda Blackmore, assistant commissioner of the Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said at a news conference Sunday evening. “So to speak to a motive would be extremely difficult at this time.”

Mass killings in Canada are relatively rare compared with the United States. The incident was one of the deadliest in Canada since a mass shooting in Nova Scotia in 2020 that left 22 dead and sparked a national inquiry into how the gunman evaded police for more than 12 hours as he continued his rampage across the province.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the attacks in Saskatchewan as “horrific and heartbreaking.”

“I’m thinking of those who have lost a loved one and of those who were injured,” he wrote on Twitter late Sunday. Officials in Ottawa are “closely monitoring” the situation, he added.

Police have not yet named any of the victims. In a statement, the leaders of James Smith Cree Nation declared a state of emergency in response to “the numerous murders and assaults on members of James Smith Cree Nation.” The leaders represent three Indigenous communities: the James Smith Cree Nation, Chakastaypasin Band and Peter Chapman Band.

Investigators are examining 13 crime scenes. At least 15 people were hospitalized, Blackmore said, and “there may be additional injured victims who transported themselves to hospital.”

Police said they are still investigating what the relationship is between the Sandersons and whether they were known to police.

The last public sighting of the pair — described by police as potentially armed and dangerous — was in Regina, about 200 miles to the south, shortly before midday Sunday. Authorities said the men may be traveling in a black Nissan Rogue crossover SUV with a Saskatchewan license plate.

An initial alert was issued about 7:12 a.m. to neighboring communities, including Candle Lake, Prince Albert, Melfort, Humboldt and Rosthern, informing the public of multiple stabbings and urging people to seek shelter. That alert was later broadened across the province and into neighboring Alberta and Manitoba.

“At this point in time, we have no indication that they’ve traveled to another province. But given they are in a vehicle, we can’t say with 100 percent certainty where they are right now, and we believe it is prudent to notify the residents of those provinces,” Blackmore said.

The police search came as thousands of fans descended on the provincial capital for a sold-out annual Labor Day game between the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Regina Police Chief Evan Bray said additional police were added to the usual game day security.

He called on members of the public to come forward with any information that may aid in the men’s arrests. “It’s safe to say someone knows potentially the whereabouts of these suspects,” he told reporters.

This is a developing story that will be updated. Lateshia Beachum contributed to this report.