Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has suspended his planned trip to the Munich Security Conference after a deadly mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, that left at least nine victims dead.
Carney’s office said he will postpone foreign travel to focus on the national tragedy and support the affected community. The attack targeted a secondary school and a nearby residence, deeply impacting families and local residents.
The shootings occurred Tuesday afternoon in the remote town of Tumbler Ridge, where emergency responders raced to the scene after reports of an active shooter. Officials later confirmed ten deaths, including the suspect, and more than 25 people injured, some critically. Police say the suspected gunman died from an apparent self‑inflicted wound and there is no ongoing threat.
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Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, serving about 160 students in grades seven through 12, was placed on lockdown as officers entered and located multiple victims. Authorities found several fatalities at the school and two more bodies at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the attack. Victims were also treated at local medical centers for non‑fatal wounds, with some airlifted to larger hospitals.
Carney expressed devastation over the shootings and pledged federal support for grieving families and first responders. British Columbia’s Premier echoed sorrow and solidarity, and officials said the small community — home to fewer than 3,000 people — is reeling from the violence.
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Schools in the area have been closed and counseling services are being offered to students, staff and families still processing the shock.
The tragedy is one of the deadliest school‑linked mass shootings in Canada in decades, reigniting debates over gun laws and public safety measures nationwide. Investigators continue to probe the motive and the connections between the victims and the shooter.
Carney’s decision to halt his international travel underscores the gravity of the event and its wide‑ranging emotional impact.