Nine people, including the suspect and their mother, have been killed in a school shooting in a British Columbia town in Canada.
The shooting in Tumbler Ridge, a small town with a population of just 2,400, is one of the deadliest mass casualty events in Canada’s recent history.
Here’s what we know so far.
What do we know about the suspect?
The attacker has been identified by police as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said at a news conference on Wednesday evening.
He said the suspect, from Tumbler Ridge, identified as female but was born a biological male, and began to transition around six years ago.
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The suspect was found at the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The deputy commissioner added that Van Rootselaar was not currently attending Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and had dropped out about four years ago.
“Police had attended that (family) residence on multiple occasions over the past several years, dealing with concerns of mental health with respect to our suspect,” Mr McDonald added.
A public alert sent to phones initially described the shooter as “a female in a dress with brown hair”.
Police superintendent Ken Floyd earlier said the suspect’s motive remained unclear and that authorities are “not in a place to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy”.
Suspect’s mother among nine killed
Police said they received a report of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which has around 175 students, at 1.20pm on Tuesday (8.20pm UK time).
When officers entered and searched the school, they found multiple victims dead.
An individual believed to be the attacker was also found dead with what appeared to be a self‑inflicted injury.
At the school, police said those killed were a 39-year-old female teacher, three 12-year-old female students, and two male students aged 12 and 13.
They said two further victims, a 39-year-old female and an 11-year-old male, were found at a local home.
When questioned by reporters, police said the 39-year-old was the mother of the suspect, with the 11-year-old thought to be their brother or step-brother.
The attacker’s family members were killed first, before the school shootings.
Initial reports claimed another victim died while on the way to hospital, but Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said that “a female with significant injuries” survived the shooting.
Overnight, police said approximately 25 others were being assessed for non‑life‑threatening injuries.
Children ‘barricaded themselves’ as parents waited for news
Children who were at the school at the time were frantically trying to barricade themselves in their classrooms as the attack unfolded, according to local reports.
Citing the reports, Sky News’ international correspondent John Sparks said: “They were putting desks and chairs up against the doors, trying to keep the shooter out of their classroom.”
There were also “desperate scenes” in the town of Tumbler Ridge during the attack, Sparks added.
“Parents were shepherded to a local hall to await news of whether their children were affected by this.
“In a tight-knit community like this, it’s very difficult for the people who live there.”
‘I probably know every victim’
Canadians in the small town, located more than 600 miles north of Vancouver, near the border with Alberta, are grieving after the tragedy.
Darryl Krakowka, mayor of Tumbler Ridge, told reporters: “I broke down. It’s devastating.”
He described the town’s small community as a “big family” and added: “I have lived here for 18 years. I probably know every one of the victims.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney offered his “prayers and deepest condolences” to the families and friends of the victims after the “horrific” attack.
“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,” he said in a statement.
“Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country – our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other.”
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The premier of British Columbia, David Eby, added: “Our hearts are in Tumbler Ridge tonight with the families of those who have lost loved ones.
“Government will ensure every possible support for community members in the coming days, as we all try to come to terms with this unimaginable tragedy.”
The school has said it will be closed for the rest of the week.
What are the gun laws in Canada?
While its neighbour has some of the most relaxed firearms legislation in the world, Canadian laws are much stricter.
Anyone wanting to possess a firearm in Canada needs to obtain a possession and acquisition licence (PAL).
Some types of firearm – such as handguns – need a restricted possession and acquisition licence (RPAL), which is issued by police.
In 2022, the government introduced a freeze on the importing, buying or selling of handguns.
A previous mass shooting in Nova Scotia in April 2020, in which an attacker killed 22 people, prompted the government to announce an immediate ban on the sale and use of assault-style weapons.
Justin Trudeau, then the prime minister, announced the ban of more than 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms, including two guns used by the 2020 gunman as well as the AR-15 and other weapons that have been used in a number of mass shootings in the US.
But almost six years later, possession of such firearms is not illegal – yet.
A compensation programme in which gun owners register their interest in turning in these firearms in exchange for cash runs until the end of March this year.
Owners have until the end of October to hand over any banned assault weapons.
After this, anyone in possession “will be breaking the law and could face criminal prosecution”, government briefing documents say.
It has not yet been made public what type of firearm or firearms were used in the most recent attack.
