Two burglars were killed and six police officers were injured in the robbery of a bank in western Canada, local authorities announced on Tuesday June 28, claiming to be still looking for a potential third suspect. “The operation is still ongoing with a strong police presence in the area”Saanich Police Chief Dean Duthie said at a news conference.
Read alsoCanada bans assault rifles after worst shooting in history
Around 11 a.m. local time (6 p.m. GMT), two armed suspects entered a bank in Saanich, a town of some 114,000 people on the outskirts of Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. “Many police officers intervened and intercepted two suspects, who opened fire on the police officers”, police said in a statement. No bank employee or customer was injured, she said. “It is difficult because we have police officers in the hospital at the moment who are suffering from serious injuries”explained Chief Dean Duthie, adding that three of the six injured police officers were undergoing surgery, while the other three could be discharged from the hospital.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is in Europe, said on Tuesday evening “shocked and saddened by the violence that occurred in Saanich”British Columbia. “My thoughts are with the officers who were injured in today’s shooting and their colleagues who faced danger to protect people.”he tweeted.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: Why Canada could benefit from the conflict
For several hours on Tuesday, the police searched for a possible third suspect, but indicated in the evening that they had “searched the area and found no indication” proving the participation of a third person. An evacuation order was issued earlier in the day for residences and businesses near the scene due to the “presence of a possible explosive device” in a vehicle associated with the suspects. The police were still trying to locate him in the evening. “It’s an event that will shake a lot of people”lamented Chief Duthie, specifying that the federal police (RCMP) had been called in for reinforcement.