Following the statement from King Charles III, we can now bring you a message shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

In a post on social media, they say they "stand with all Canadians" following the shootings that took place in Tumbler Ridge.

"Our hearts are with the entire Tumbler Ridge community, and we extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends affected by this devastating loss.

"We are so thankful for the courage shown by the students, staff, and emergency responders who acted with selflessness in the face of such violence."

Image source, PA Media

King Charles III has expressed his profound "shock and sadness" at the "senseless act of brutal violence" in British Columbia, western Canada.

In a message posted to Instagram, the King - who is Canada's head of state - says:

"My wife and I were profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of the most dreadful attack at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.

"We can only express our deepest possible sympathy to the families who are grieving the unimaginable loss of their loved ones and those still awaiting news from hospital. In such a closely connected town, every child's name will be known and every family will be a neighbour.

"We can only begin to imagine the appalling shadow that has now descended across Tumbler Ridge and our hearts go out to all those whose lives have been so shattered by this senseless act of brutal violence.

"I very much wish to thank the town's police and staff at the health centre for their courage as first responders, and all those across British Columbia who have helped in every way they have.

"In sending our most heartfelt condolences, my wife and I stand in solidarity with the people of Tumbler Ridge and all Canadians as they seek understanding, healing and strength."

Images taken outside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, western Canada, have just been sent to us, as it approaches 07:30 local time (14:30 GMT) there.

Image source, Canadian Press / Shutterstock

Image source, Canadian Press / Shutterstock

A teacher has recounted how he hid for hours with his students during the fatal shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.

Jarbas Noronha, a mechanics teacher at the school, told the New York Times that one of his students had heard gunshots outside.

Two minutes later, Noronha says he heard the school's principal shouting: “Lockdown!” He and his students then blocked the doors to the classroom - where they hid for two hours - using two metal benches as barricades.

“We were in the safest part of the school,” says Noronha. “If someone tried to break in through the hallway door, we would run to the yard through the garage doors.”

Noronha says he learned of the extent of the violence when he returned home.

“I don’t think many students are in a condition to go back now,” says the mechanics teacher .

“I’m quite calm, but I still don’t know how many students were hurt."

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada where gun ownership laws are stricter than in the neighbouring United States.

After the attack in Tumbler Ridge saw nine killed and at least 25 injured, here's a brief history of some of Canada's most significant mass shootings.

December 1989, the Montreal massacre: Fourteen women were killed in an anti-feminist attack by gunman Marc Lepine at Polytechnique Montréal. In the aftermath, new laws around gun ownership registration were introduced, which included strengthening background checks and limiting the types of weapons that could be licensed.

December 2014, Edmonton: A man killed six adults and two children - including his wife - before killing himself in an attack police called "senseless mass murder".

January 2017, Quebec mosque shooting: An attack on Quebec City Islamic Cultural Centre left six dead and 19 injured. Shooter Alexandre Bissonnette was sentenced to life in prison.

April 2020, Nova Scotia: The worst mass shooting in Canada's history saw a gunman disguised as a policeman kill 22 people over a two-day period. Afterwards, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a ban on 1,500 types of assault-style weapons, and there has since been a freeze on buying and selling handguns.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

For the last few years, Canada's government has been pushing through a buy-back program on particular guns - targeting owners of "military-style assault rifles".

It was unveiled by the then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in April 2020, who introduced the long-promised ban on assault-style weapons.

It followed Canada's worst gun massacre when a man posing as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police went on a rampage across the province of Nova Scotia killing 22 victims.

Trudeau said the new rules would make it illegal to sell, transport, import or use 1,500 varieties of assault weapons. The ban was immediately imposed but there was a two-year amnesty period for law-abiding gun owners to comply.

The amnesty period for possessing the banned guns has been extended several times. The latest deadline is the end of October this year.

It is not yet known what weapon was used in the Tumbler Ridge shooting or how it was acquired.

We can now bring you details of a statement from the Canadian Olympic Committee.

The team is currently competing in the Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy - a number of them are from the province where the attack happened.

"We are heartbroken by the news of the horrific school shooting that occurred in British Columbia," the statement reads.

"Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones, those who are injured, and the entire Tumbler Ridge community. Team Canada stands with everyone affected as they navigate difficult days ahead.”

Image source, Trent Ernst/Tumbler RidgeLines

Nine people have died and at least 25 have been injured during shootings in a small, rural community in British Columbia, western Canada on Tuesday.

It's just gone 05:30 in Tumbler Ridge (12:30 GMT) and, if you're just waking up, here's what you need to know:

The attack

Fatal shootings took place in two locations - one at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and another at a nearby residence - here's how the attack unfolded. Police believe the shootings may be connected but have not officially confirmed this.

Footage shows an armed officer and helicopter arriving at the school, and people being evacuated. An active lockdown alert covering both the secondary and nearby elementary schools ended at 17:45 local time (00:45 GMT).

The victims

Six people were found dead at the school, and a seventh died on the way to hospital. Two bodies were also found at a nearby home. At least two more people were airlifted away with serious or life-threatening injuries.

Around 25 people have been left with non‑life‑threatening injuries. The ages and identities of the victims have not yet been shared.

The suspected attacker

The suspected attacker, whose body was found in the school, is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It is not yet clear if they were linked to the school.

A shelter-in-place alert described the suspected attacker as a "female in a dress with brown hair". Details of the suspect's identity are yet to be shared by authorities.

There has been an outcry of devastation in Tumbler Ridge. Elsewhere, the attack has sparked international reaction.

We're continuing to monitor the latest updates from the authorities, stay with us.

Image source, House of Commons

We can now bring you an update from the UK where Prime Minister Keir Starmer has just commented on the fatal shooting in Canada.

"This morning I conveyed the UK's deepest condolences to Prime Minister Carney and the people of Canada for the devastating shooting in Tumbler Ridge," he tells the House of Commons at Prime Minister's Questions.

Mass shootings in Canada are rare, but despite the strict firearm laws gun-related killings in the country are not uncommon.

According to recent statistics, the rate of gun-related killings is higher than that of England and Wales, but is far lower compared to the United States.

In the graphic below, we've compared Canada's gun-related killings to those in the US, Canada, Australia and England and Wales.

Shootings that took place in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, have left nine dead and 25 injured.

This impact of this attack in a small, rural region in the western Canadian province has been felt in its tight-knit community.

Six people were killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where Grade 12 student Darian Quist says he and his classmates "got tables and barricaded the doors" during the shooting.

"It's hard to put into words the dread and the fear that you feel knowing that a loved one is in danger," says Chris Norbury, a local councillor whose wife works at the school.

"We don't lock our doors here," Norbury says. "It is an incredibly safe community."

"I will know every victim. I've been here 19 years, and we're a small community," says Tumbler Ridge mayor Darryl Krakowka, who describes the residents of the town his "family".

Local journalist Trent Ernst, who was live streaming updates in the aftermath of the attack, says: "There is a sense of these things that happen elsewhere, they don't happen here. That has been shattered."

At 13:20 local time (20:20 GMT) police received a report of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, Canada.

A student describes hearing an alarm after arriving at class around 13:30 local time, instructing them to close the doors for a lockdown.

Police arrived at the school within two minutes, according to British Columbia's Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger.

A shelter-in-place alert was subsequently sent to phones in the area by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), describing the suspected attacker as a "female in a dress with brown hair".

The alert was officially cancelled at 17:45 local time (00:45 GMT) once police determined there were no outstanding suspects.

Later on, RCMP chief Ken Floyd provided an update, where he confirmed that ten people had died - including the shooter - and at least 25 others had been injured.

Floyd also confirmed that the shooting unfolded at two separate locations. Two people were found dead at a nearby home.

Image source, AFP

Local Tumbler Ridge journalist Trent Ernst describes seeing emergency service vehicles blocking the roads around the secondary school after the shooting.

Ernst saw the emergency alert - which has since been stood down - about an active shooter. "So I started live streaming from there for about 15 or 20 minutes before my phone died," he told Canada's CBC News.

"While I was there I kept hearing reports that more and more places downtown were being shut down.

"There is a sense of these things that happen elsewhere, they don't happen here. That has been shattered."

Nine people killed at two different sites:

• Six were found dead in Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, while a seventh died on the way to hospital
• Two other people were found dead at a nearby residence

At least 25 others injured:

• Approximately 25 people were assessed at the local medical centre for various non‑life‑threatening injuries
• Two more people were were airlifted away from the scene with serious or life threatening injuries

Police "are still reaching out" to victims' families and next of kin, British Columbia Premier David Eby says. The ages and identities of those who have been killed or injured in the attack remains unknown.

The suspected attacker is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was discovered at the school.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

We've been seeing international reaction to the fatal shooting in Canada, here are some of the latest comments:

• French President Emmanuel Macron says France "stands alongside" the Canadian people. "Horror has struck a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, the injured, and the entire educational community," he writes on X
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is "shocked" and "saddened" by news of the attack. "I send my sincere condolences to all Canadians impacted by this horrific event," he adds
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz describes being "deeply shaken" by news of the shooting. "Our thoughts are with the people of Tumbler Ridge as they mourn their families, friends, and loved ones. I wish those who were injured a swift recovery"
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine is "shocked" by the shooting - adding "such tragedies should never happen anywhere, in any country in the world". He adds that he hopes that those injured recover quickly

We can share some footage from the scene in the aftermath of the shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.

In one clip, people are seen evacuating as a helicopter arrives at the building. In another an armed officer is seen entering the school.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

In Canada, gun ownership is largely federally regulated - by the national government - and there are stricter gun laws in place than most US states.

Under the country's Firearms Act, guns must be kept locked and unloaded. Anyone wishing to buy a firearm is also subject to extensive background checks.

A national freeze on private ownership of all short-barrelled firearms has also been in place in Canada since 2022.

That said, there a number of people across the country who own guns - particularly in rural areas, external.

In the past, Canada's Department of Justice have reported that British Columbia - where Tumbler Ridge Secondary School is located - has a higher ownership of handguns than elsewhere in the country., external

Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, the location of the fatal shooting, is located in the small town of Tumbler Ridge in British Columbia, Canada.

A census taken in 2021 showed that the town's population stood at around 2,400 people.

A British Columbia district page about the secondary school describes it as a public school with 160 students enrolled across all grades. These range from Grade 7, which encompasses those aged 12 and 13, through to Grade 12, where students are between 17 and 18.

An active alert was cancelled at the secondary and elementary schools at 17:45 local time (00:45 GMT) - ending a lockdown which had been put in place during the attack.

Both schools are due to be closed for the remainder of the week while the identities of the victims have not yet been made public.

Nine people have been killed and at least 25 injured in a shooting at a school and nearby house in the "small tight-knit community" of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia - here's the latest:

What we know

• Of the nine people killed in the attacks, six were found dead in Tumbler Ridge Secondary School while a seventh died on the way to hospital. Two other people were found dead at a nearby residence
• The suspected attacker was also found dead at the school with a self-inflicted injury - authorities have said they know the attacker's identity but have not revealed their name or gender
• A shelter-in-place alert sent to phones in the area described the suspected attacker as a "female in a dress with brown hair"
• At least two other people were taken to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries following the attack, and as many as 25 people were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said

• A lockdown in both the secondary school and nearby elementary school has been lifted but both will remain closed for the remainder of the week

What we don't yet know

• The suspect's identity: Police are yet to share details of the suspect and say they do not yet know their connection to the school
• Any link between the attacks: Police believe there could be a link between the attacks at the school and nearby residence "but are not in a position to provide that definitively"
• The identities or ages of the victims: Details of the victims have not yet been released

• Whether the number of victims could rise: We are yet to hear further updates from authorities, but police earlier said they were continuing to search nearby residences following the shooting, it is unclear whether that search has concluded

More from town councillor Chris Norbury who has been speaking live from Canada with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He describes just how much of a shock the mass shooting has been to the small Tumbler Ridge community.

"We don't lock our doors here," Norbury says. "It is an incredibly safe community... we don't have to worry about crime here."

He describes going to the secondary school and seeing emergency services blocking the entrance.

Norbury adds: "We have three police vehicles in our town, we are very small. We are a small community. We know each other, we all know the victims. They are our friends, our friends' children."