Canada rocked by worst school shooting in 40 years as 'woman in dress' opens fire

Nine people have been killed, with at least 25 injured, in shootings at a school and a home in British Columbia, Canada, this week.

Six victims were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday (10 February), with a seventh dying on their way to hospital.

The suspect's body was also found at the school, with a self-inflicted injury.

Tumbler Ridge is a small town of just 2,400 people located 415 miles north of Vancouver, with the secondary school having 175 students enrolled across all grades.

A student told local outlet CBC that with the help of his classmates, they 'got tables and barricaded the doors' as the shooting took place.

Speaking in a news conference, Canadian federal police Chief Supt Floyd confirmed that the suspect who was found dead is the same person police described in an alert sent to phones.

Tumbler Ridge is a small town in rural Canada (Getty Stock Image)

The alert described the suspect as a woman in a dress with brown hair.

Authorities believe they know the identity of the suspected attackers, but they have not yet released additional details as they say they do not know their connection with the school.

At least two other people have been taken to hospital with serious injuries following the attack, while over 25 people were being treating for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police believe that there may be a link between the attacks at the school and nearby residence, though they claimed they 'are not in a position to provide that definitively'.

Approximately 100 students and staff were evacuated from the school after police showed up, responding to calls of an active shooter.

Nine people have been killed in the shooting, which took place at a home and secondary school (X)

Floyd explained that while the motivation for the attack isn't known, he added: "I think we will struggle to determine the 'why', but we will try our best to determine what transpired."

He also explained: "We are not in a place to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy."

In a statement from RCMP, they said: "As part of the initial response to the active shooting, police entered the school to locate the threat. During the search, officers located multiple victims.

"An individual believed to be the shooter was also found deceased with what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury."

School shootings in Canada are a rarity, with this being the nation's deadliest rampage since 2020, when a gunman killed 13 people in Nova Scotia and set fires which claimed the lives of nine more.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has described the shooting as a 'horrible tragedy' (Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Taking to X, Canada's PM Mark Carney said: "I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence."

He said that he joins Canadians in their grief, thanking the first responders who risked their lives to protect residents.

David Eby, the province’s premier, called the shooting an 'unimaginable tragedy'.

"I’m asking the people of British Columbia to look after the people of Tumbler Ridge tonight," he urged.

In the past, Canada's government has introduced new gun control measures following mass shootings, recently having a ban on all guns considered assault weapons.