Canada stabbing attack kills 10 and injures 18, police continue search for suspects

Americas, News September 5, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Royal Canadian Mounted Police is searching for the two assailants involved in the stabbing spree that killed at least 10 people and wounded 18 in Weldon, Saskatchewan, in and around an Indigenous community.

Canadian authorities have charged two men with first degree murder and attempted murder in the stabbing rampage – one of the deadliest cases of mass violence in the country in recent years, police said.

The police named two suspects for the stabbing and released their photos, however, no details of the victims or motives of the attackers were provided. Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba police are searching for Myles Sanderson, 30, and Damien Sanderson, 31.

“To the people of Saskatchewan and beyond, please be assured that we are using every human, investigational and technological resource we have available to locate and arrest the persons responsible for this tragedy and to ensure your safety,” said Rhonda Blackmore, assistant commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Saskatchewan.

The stabbing incident took place at 13 different locations around an Indigenous community in central Canada on September 4, 2022. The police responded to emergency calls about the attacks from the Indigenous community of James Smith Cree Nation in Weldon.

“It is horrific what has happened in our province today,” Blackmore said. “It appears that some of the victims may have been targeted, and some may be random. So to speak to a motive would be extremely difficult at this point in time.”

Regina police service chief Evan Bray said they have got a fresh set of investigators, adding that “We will not stop this investigation until we have those two safely in custody.”

Canada stabbings — ^{Investigators gather in front of the scene of a stabbing in Weldon, Saskatchewan, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022. A series of stabbings left multiple people dead and others wounded, Canadian police said. (Image Credit: Canadian Press via AP)}

The police officials have described the attackers as two men in their early 30s, who were last spotted in Regina, Saskatchewan’s capital city. Local police have issued a province-wide dangerous person alert while warning the authorities in the neighboring Alberta and Manitoba provinces. The police have begun the manhunt to find the two suspects, however, the total radius of the search operation is too wide for the police to cover in a short time. Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba together are nearly half the size of Europe.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the attacks were “horrific and heartbreaking”. He said that the Canadian government is closely monitoring the situation. “As Canadians, we mourn with everyone affected by this tragic violence, and with the people of Saskatchewan,” he said in his statement. He also thanked all the first responders for their efforts on the ground.

Today and tomorrow, the flag on the Peace Tower will be flown at half-mast – in memory of those who lost their lives during yesterday’s attacks in Saskatchewan, and in solidarity with everyone affected by this violence. All Canadians are there for you.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 5, 2022

The bulk of the attacks happened in James Smith Cree Nation, an Indigenous community of 3,400, and neighboring Weldon. The authorities are yet to release the names of those killed in the attack.

A statement by a local Indigenous community leader suggests that the stabbing spree may have been drug-related. Bobby Cameron, the chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents First Nations groups in Saskatchewan said: “Our hearts break for all those impacted. This is the destruction we face when harmful illegal drugs invade our communities.”

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe offered condolences to those affected by the stabbings and also thanked police for their efforts.

I also want to thank the RCMP and other police services for the efforts they are making to apprehend the attackers and protect the public, and thank all the first responders and health care professionals who are treating numerous victims.
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) September 4, 2022

The stabbing attack was one of the deadliest mass killings in Canada’s recent history. The last such mass killing happened in 2020 when a man disguised as a police officer shot people at their homes and set fire across the neighborhood in Nova Scotia, killing 22 people.