An investigation has been launched after six people, including four children, were found dead at a house in Canadian capital Ottawa.
The bodies of a Sri Lankan family including a mother, aged 35, and her four children, aged seven, four, two and two-and-a-half months, were discovered at the property in the suburb of Barrhaven around 10.52pm local time on Wednesday.
A 40-year-old male family acquaintance from Sri Lanka was also found dead at the scene.
A seventh person, identified as the father and husband of the victims, was taken to hospital and is now in a serious but stable condition.
The suspect, a 19-year-old Sri Lankan national thought to have been studying in Canada, has been charged with six counts of first degree murder and a further count of attempted murder.
An “edged weapon” was used to carry out the killings – for which the motive remains unclear, Ottawa Police said in a press conference on Thursday.
Investigative teams remain on the scene in Berrigan Drive, described by Ottawa Police chief, Eric Stubbs, as “very tragic” and “horrific”.
Edward Burtnysky on climate crisis: ‘We should be screaming fire… but we’re rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic’
Canada contradicts Kemi Badenoch’s claim post-Brexit trade talks are ‘ongoing’
Three killed in Canadian ski-helicopter crash
Mr Stubbs told the press conference: “This was a senseless act of violence perpetrated on purely innocent people.”
One resident, Shanti Ramesh, said she heard a commotion before going on her balcony and seeing a man sitting on the driveway of the home – the middle unit in a row of townhouses – yelling.
He was taken away by two police officers, she said.
‘One of the most shocking incidents of violence in city’s history’
Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe described the tragedy as “one of the most shocking incidents of violence in our city’s history”.
“I was devastated to learn of the multiple homicide in Barrhaven,” he said.
In a post on X, Mr Sutcliffe wrote: “We are proud to live in a safe community but this news is distressing to all Ottawa residents.”
Read more on Sky News:
Former wrestler is suspect in Las Vegas murder probe
Footage shows sailors rescued after fatal Houthi attack
Iraqi president ‘disappointed’ in UK over Gaza response
Canada‘s capital, which has a population of 1 million, witnessed 14 murders last year and 15 in 2022.
In December 2022, a man gunned down five people in a suburb of Toronto before being shot by police.
Three months earlier, a man stabbed and killed 11 people in the western province of Saskatchewan.
He died of a cocaine overdose shortly after being arrested by police.
