One person has been killed and six others injured in a mass stabbing in an Indigenous community in central Canada, according to federal police who said that the the suspect also died in the incident.
The violence occurred in Hollow Water First Nation, a remote community with about 1,000 residents, 217km (135 miles) north of Manitoba’s provincial capital, Winnipeg, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told AFP.
“We can confirm that at least six victims have been transported to hospital and one victim is deceased,” the RCMP said.
“The suspect is also deceased,” the force added.
Investigators were “gathering information to determine what exactly occurred”, the RCMP further said.
In 2022, 11 people were killed and 18 injured in a remote Indigenous community in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan.
The killings in the James Smith Cree Nation and nearby village of Weldon prompted a national inquiry and brought renewed attention to the prevalence of crime affecting Canada’s First Nations.
Indigenous people represent 5% of Canada’s population of 41 million, but statistics show they are disproportionately affected by violent crime, including homicide.