Tumbler Ridge Massacre: Canada Investigates Shooter’s Mental Health, Police History

Canadian authorities are intensifying investigations into the mental health history and prior police interactions of Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old who carried out a deadly mass shooting in the remote mining town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on February 10, 2026. The tragedy has left the small community in mourning and raised national questions about gun control, mental health support, and law enforcement interventions.

According to RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, authorities are still unclear on the motive behind the attack, which is one of the deadliest school shootings in Canadian history. Van Rootselaar, a transgender woman who had dropped out of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School four years ago, first killed her mother and stepbrother before opening fire at the school, where she shot six more victims. The shooter later took her own life at the scene.

Investigators have confirmed that Van Rootselaar was known to police and had previous interactions with the public health system due to mental health concerns. Authorities are reviewing prior incidents, including earlier firearms seizures and her lapsed gun licence, to understand how warning signs were addressed before the massacre. British Columbia Premier David Eby said officials are working with the health system to determine “what interactions may have taken place” in the past.

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The victims include a 39-year-old female teacher and five students aged 12 and 13, with one child, 12-year-old Maya Gebala, in critical condition after trying to lock herself and classmates in a library during the attack. First responders arrived within minutes, but the scale of the violence left the tight-knit community of about 2,700 residents reeling. Hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil to honour those killed and injured.

Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed parliament, describing Tumbler Ridge as a resilient, compassionate community of miners, teachers, and construction workers, and emphasised the need to learn from the tragedy. Flags across Canada have been lowered to half-staff for seven days in remembrance of the victims. Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla also expressed shock and sorrow over the massacre.

Schools in the area will remain closed for the remainder of the week as authorities continue their investigation into Van Rootselaar’s mental health background, police interactions, and access to firearms, seeking to understand how similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.

Tumbler Ridge Massacre: Canada Investigates Shooter’s Mental Health, Police History

Canada Mass Shooting: Nine Dead in School, Residence Attack

A mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada has left nine people dead and dozens injured after an attacker opened fire at a secondary school and a nearby residence on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), seven victims were killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, while two others died at a residence connected to the incident. At least 27 people were wounded, including two in critical condition, while the rest sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect was found deceased at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted injury. Authorities have not yet released the identity or motive behind the attack, which has shaken the small community of roughly 2,400 residents.

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Police responded rapidly, issuing an active shooter alert, placing schools on lockdown, and evacuating students safely. The RCMP and local officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and the suspect’s background.

Local leaders described the event as a devastating tragedy, expressing solidarity with victims’ families. The shooting has prompted national attention in Canada and renewed calls for enhanced school security and measures to prevent mass shootings.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in maintaining safety and preventing similar tragedies.

The attack is considered one of the deadliest school-related shootings in Canada in recent years, drawing widespread condemnation and grief across the country.

Canada Mass Shooting: Nine Dead in School, Residence Attack

Iran Warns U.S. Against Israeli Pressure as Nuclear Talks Resume

Iran has warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States is a calculated move to undermine the newly resumed nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S., urging Washington to resist external pressure that could derail diplomacy.

Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Tuesday for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, as he seeks to push for a tougher American position on Iran, particularly on its ballistic missile programme, ahead of the next phase of negotiations.

The trip marks Netanyahu’s seventh meeting with Trump since the U.S. president returned to office. Their last meeting took place in Jerusalem in October 2025, shortly after Trump announced a ceasefire in Gaza.

Speaking before his departure, Netanyahu said discussions would focus on Gaza, regional developments and Iran’s nuclear file.

“On this trip, we will discuss a range of issues: Gaza, the region, but of course first and foremost the negotiations with Iran,” he said.

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Netanyahu added that he would present Israel’s position on what he described as “the principles of the negotiations,” arguing that these principles were crucial not only for Israel but for peace and security in the Middle East.

His office has repeatedly insisted that any agreement with Iran must extend beyond nuclear matters to include ballistic missile development and Iran’s regional activities.

Reacting to the visit, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accused Israel of being the primary source of instability in the region and of working against diplomatic efforts.

Baghaei said Israel had turned Iran’s “peaceful nuclear programme” into what he described as a “fabricated crisis”, adding that Israel opposes any diplomatic process capable of restoring peace and calm in the Middle East.

He cautioned U.S. officials against allowing foreign actors to shape American foreign policy, urging Washington to act independently of what he called “destructive pressures and lobbies.”

Baghaei said Iran had demonstrated seriousness and goodwill in the talks and was eager to secure the lifting of “illegal sanctions” imposed on the country.

Referring to a brief encounter between Iranian and U.S. delegations last Friday, he said there was an understanding to continue the diplomatic process, describing it as an important step forward.

Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Oman on Tuesday, according to local media, as diplomatic engagements around the talks intensify.

Iran Warns U.S. Against Israeli Pressure as Nuclear Talks Resume