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HomeGlobal NewsAt least 16 people killed in Nova Scotia shooting

At least 16 people killed in Nova Scotia shooting

The shooting in the rural town of Portapique, near to the city of Halifax is thought to be Canada’s worst mass shooting in three decades, after 16 people have been killed

At least 16 people have been killed in the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia, following a mass shooting, the deadliest of such and attack in Canada’s history.

The suspected shooter was in disguise as a police officer and had also modified their car to resemble a police vehicle.

Authorities were still trying to establish the final death toll on Sunday. They warned that there may be more victims than the current number of 16 people.

The shootings lasted for over a span of 12 hours in the rural town of Portapique.

One of those killed in the shootings was Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and also a married mother of two. A second police officer was injured.

Brian Sauve, president of the National Police Federation union, said: “Our hearts are heavy with grief and sadness today as we have lost one of our own.”

16 people killed in Nova Scotia
The National Police Federation President, Brian Sauvé

Portapique, about 80 miles north of Halifax, was where the rampage began on Saturday night, when police told residents of the rural town to lock their doors and stay inside.

Police say the suspect Gabriel Wortman, a 51-year-old denturist, killed people in multiple locations and that he did not know some of his victims.

Chris Leather, the RCMP’s criminal operations officer for Nova Scotia, said Wortman had been witnessed wearing a police uniform but it was not clear whether he was wearing this disguise during the attacks.

“The fact that this individual had a uniform and a police car at his disposal certainly speaks to it not being a random act,” Mr Leather said.

Police have said that the case is not being investigated as an act of terrorism, However Mr Leather said that police investigate a possible link to the closure of non-essential businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was confirmed that Gabriel Wortman was not employed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Wortman was arrested at a petrol station, but later died. Reports that he was shot dead by police were not officially confirmed, although police did say that they had exchanged fire with Wortman before the arrest.

At least 16 people killed in Nova Scotia
Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) tactical unit, surround the suspect at a petrol station

Nova Scotia’s premier Stephen McNeil described the shooting as “one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province’s history”.

He added: “I never imagined when I went to bed last night that I would wake up to the horrific news that an active shooter was on the loose in Nova Scotia.”

At least 16 people killed in Nova Scotia
Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau Credit: (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said:

“My heart goes out to everyone affected in what is a terrible situation”.

In a Statement, Trudeau went on to say: “As a country, in moments like these, we come together to support one another. Together we will mourn with the families of the victims, and help them get through this difficult time.”

This is the deadliest shooting in Canada’s history, followed by when a gunman killed 14 women in Montreal in 1989, this incident resulted in a massive overhaul of gun laws in Canada.

Under current laws in Canada, it is illegal to possess an unregistered handgun or semi-automatic weapon, and to buy a firearm in the country requires training, a risk assessment, two references, notifying of a spouse if relevant, as well as criminal background checks.

The largest act of mass murder in Canadian history was when 268 Canadians were among 329 people who were killed in 1985 when an Air India plane (Air India Flight 182) was brought down with a bomb over the Atlantic.

Eve Cooper
Eve Cooper
I've been writing articles and stories for as long as I can remember and in the past few years I've had the fortune of turning that love & passion for writing into my job :)

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