Attackers stab 10 people to death in Canada; Efforts are on to nab the accused

     photo: AP

Canadian police hunted for two suspects in a stabbing spree that killed 10 people and wounded at least 15 others, mostly in a sparsely populated indigenous community early Sunday.

The stabbings across 13 crime scenes were among the deadliest mass killings in modern Canadian history and certain to reverberate throughout the country, which is unaccustomed to bouts of mass violence more commonly seen in the United States.

"The attacks in Saskatchewan today are horrific and heartbreaking. I'm thinking of those who have lost a loved one and of those who were injured," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a message posted on Twitter.

Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 30, were identified as the two suspects by police, who also provided images and descriptions of them, but no more information regarding their whereabouts or the victims.

In Regina, roughly 320 kilometres (200 miles) south of the attacks in the James Smith Cree Nation and the community of Weldon, the two were reportedly seen driving a black Nissan Rogue, according to police.

"Some of the victims may have been targeted, while others may have been picked at random, it seems. Therefore, it would be very difficult at this time to speak to a motivation, "The Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police's commanding officer, Rhonda Blackmore, stated at a press conference.

Police said more victims have been shifted to various hospitals.

James Smith Cree Nation is an indigenous community with a population of about 3,400 people largely engaged in farming, hunting and fishing. 200 people live in the village of Weldon.

Two emergency operations centres were set up after the elected elders of the country proclaimed a state of emergency "in reaction to the numerous murders and assaults against members of the James Smith Cree Nation."

Three hours after the first stabbings, which were recorded at 5:40 am (1140 GMT), police issued a province-wide alert about violent people. Similar warnings were sent out in Saskatchewan's bordering provinces, Alberta and Manitoba, by the afternoon.

Police bulletins cautioned against picking up hitchhikers or approaching questionable individuals while advising the public to report any suspicious individuals and to take precautions, including hiding in place.

"Never leave a safe place. When inviting guests into your home, use caution "a warning stated.

They may be in Regina, one of the province's largest cities, where a significant police presence has already been mobilised due to a Canadian football game at Mosaic Stadium nearby, according to a police alert issued shortly after midday.

Blackmore clarified that it was unclear whether the suspects had switched cars or where they might be headed.

Blackmore described the attacks as one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in the province's recent history and referred to them as "horrific."

When the possibility of a large number of patient transfers as a result of this circumstance was no longer significant, the Saskatchewan Health Authority declared the emergency response to be complete.

The health authority issued a statement that read, "We can confirm that many persons have been triaged and cared for at multiple sites and that a call for additional staff to help respond to this crisis has occurred."