Canada stabbings suspects on the run – police

Police have expanded their search for the suspects to include neighbouring Manitoba and Alberta provinces – a vast region almost half the size of Europe.

It follows reported sightings in Regina – the provincial capital of Saskatchewan which lies more than 185 miles (300km) south of the first attack.

Rhonda Blackmore, assistant commissioner, says police received a call at 05:40 local time about a stabbing at James Smith Cree Nation, followed quickly by more calls about further attacks.

“At this point in time, we have no indication they travelled to another province,” she said.

Let’s bring you more now on what we know about the victims of Sunday’s attacks.

Three air ambulances were dispatched to James Smith Cree Nation, one of the sites of the attacks. Each helicopter took one patient each to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, a STARS air ambulances spokesperson tells CBC News.

The area is remote – James Smith Cree Nation is about 124 miles (200km) northeast of Saskatoon, the nearest major city. Other patients were taken by ground to more local hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan Health Authority tells AFP news agency in a statement that emergency protocols have been activated to deal with a “high number of critical patients”.

People in affected areas are being asked to stay indoors and to avoid picking up hitchhikers.

Rhonda Blackmore, assistant commissioner with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, told a news conference: “We are still looking for the two suspects.

“We are asking residents of across Saskatchewan and our neighbouring provinces to be vigilant.

“At this stage of our investigation we believe some of the victims have targeted by the suspect and others have been attacked randomly.”

More now from Jason Kerr, editor of the local paper Prince Albert Daily Herald.

He tells BBC News that incidents of this scale in small rural areas like James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon are “very rare”.

“We’re used to seeing crimes in major cities, but to see something like this happen in small rural areas is very surprising for the people and very shocking,” he says.

The James Smith Cree Nation has a population of around 2,500 people, while only around 200 people live in Weldon.

The attacks happened at multiple locations in the Saskatchewan province.

Authorities say they are investigating 13 crime scenes where victims have been found.

Some victims were targeted in the James Smith Cree Nation and in the village of Weldon, north-east of Saskatoon.

BBCCopyright: BBC

CBCCopyright: CBC

Police have released a timeline of events so far on the Saskatchewan stabbings:

• 05:40 local time on 4 September (12:40 BST) – police receive a call about a stabbing on the James Smith Cree Nation
• Shortly afterwards, handlers receive further calls reporting additional stabbings at different locations and the suspects are identified as Damien Sanderson and Miles Sanderson
• 07:12 – police ask the public to seek immediate shelter and issue a Dangerous Persons Alert to residents of James Smith Cree Nation and its surrounding communities – including Candle Lake, Prince Albert, Melfort, Humboldt and Rosthern
• 07:57 – police reveal the names, descriptions and pictures of the two suspects
• 08:20 – the Dangerous Persons Alert is extended to the whole Saskatchewan province after information comes to light that the suspects are travelling in a vehicle
• 09:45 – a description of the vehicle and the correct picture to identify Myles Sanderson are included in a new alert. Police say multiple victims have been attacked in multiple locations, some randomly
• 11:25 – the search for the suspects is widened to the neighbouring provinces of Manitoba and Alberta
• 12:07 – police alert the public that the suspect vehicle had been spotted on Arcola Avenue in Regina, the provincial capital which lies more than 185 miles (300km) south of the first attack

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has issued a statement describing the attacks as “senseless violence”.

“There are no words to adequately describe the pain and loss caused by this senseless violence,” the local leader wrote in a tweet on Sunday.

“All of Saskatchewan grieves with the victims and their families.”

More now from local police, who are urging the suspects to hand themselves in to authorities.

“If Damien and Myles are listening, or receive this information, I would ask they turn themselves in to police,” assistant commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said.

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We’re hearing more from the community in Saskatchewan as events continue to unfold there.

Police are appealing for anyone injured as a result of the attacks to get in contact with them, according to Jason Kerr, editor of the local paper the Prince Albert Daily Herald.

He tells BBC News that police believe several of those known to be injured may have driven themselves to hospital.

“They are actually in the process of asking people who are injured to reach out to them so they can get a true count of just how many people could be victims,” he adds.

We’ll bring you more from our interview with Kerr shortly.

A state of emergency has been declared in the indigenous community of James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) – the area where the first attacks are understood to have been carried out.https://kmaupdates.com/

Leaders of JSCN, who represent three communities including Chakastaypasin Band and Peter Chapman Band, say the measure is in response to the “numerous murders and assaults on members of ” the JSCN community on Sunday.

They say they have set up two emergency operations centres to provide health support.

Marco Mendicino, minister of Public Safety of Canada, earlier urged Saskatchewan residents to “shelter in place”.

“To everyone in Saskatchewan, especially those in proximity to the James Smith Cree First Nation area, please shelter in place and stay safe,” he wrote on Twitter.

RCMP SASKATCHEWANCopyright: RCMP SASKATCHEWAN

More now on the two men named by Canadian police as suspects.

Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 30 are on the run and considered armed and dangerous, police said.

“The suspects may be in black Nissan Rogue [vehicle],” Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Saskatchewan said, warning anyone who sees the men or the car to stay away and call police.

At least 10 people have been killed and another 15 injured in a stabbing rampage in Canada’s central Saskatchewan province.

Police said the victims were found in 13 locations, including in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon.

Two suspects that police identified as Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 30 are on the run and considered armed and dangerous.

Residents have been told to shelter in place under a dangerous person alert.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the unfolding situation in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

Police there say at least 10 people have been killed, and 15 injured, in a series of stabbing attacks.

They have named two suspects – who are on the run – and advised people in the area to take shelter.