Nine die, including two children, in 'senseless mass murder'

A man with a lengthy criminal record killed six adults and two young children before taking his own life in what a Canadian police chief called a “senseless mass murder”.

The killings happened in Edmonton, Alberta, and police chief Rod Knecht said it was the city’s worst mass murder.

He said the mass killings appear to have been a case of domestic violence, and although he did not release the suspect’s name, he said he was well-known to police and had a criminal record dating back to September 1987.

Cindy Duong, 37, was fatally shot in a home in south Edmonton on Monday, while two men, three women, a girl and a boy were found dead a few hours later at a home in the north-east.

Police say the killer’s body was found yesterday morning at a restaurant in Fort Saskatchewan.

Ms Duong was found by officers who were responding to a weapons complaint at the property.

Another seven bodies were discovered by officers checking reports of a suicidal man.

Mr Knecht said the public was not in danger: “This series of events are not believed to be random acts.

“These events do not appear to be gang-related, but rather tragic incidents of domestic violence.”

He added: “Our homicide investigators have established associations and linkages between these homicides.”

Police would not elaborate on the connection between the deaths.