A series of knife attacks in a village in Saskatchewan, Canada, has left at least ten dead and 15 others injured.

On Sunday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Saskatchewan said the victims were attacked randomly, spanning different locations across the James Smith Cree Nation and the village of Weldon.

“Today… Saskatchewan RCMP Divisional Operational Communications Center, or our DOCC, received a call reporting a stabbing on the James Smith Cree Nation,” said Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, the Commanding Officer of Saskatchewan RCMP. 

The police chief added, “In the following minutes, our DOCC received multiple calls reporting additional stabbings at different locations in the community. The suspects named were Damien Sanderson and Miles Sanderson.”

Ms Blackmore added that police were working at 13 crime scenes and that there might be more victims. 

The James Smith Cree Nation has declared a state of emergency until September 30 “in response to the numerous murders and assaults” and has set up two emergency operations centres.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority said multiple patients were being treated at several sites. 

The Royal University Hospital, Saskatchewan’s main trauma centre, raised its emergency preparedness level to “code orange” on Sunday, anticipating more patients. 

The code was dropped after police said it was less likely for multiple patients to arrive all at once.

“As of late this afternoon, the Code Orange was declared over, as the risk of a high influx of patient transfers due to this situation is no longer prominent,” the health authority said. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the killings, saying he was “shocked and devastated by the horrific attacks” and mourned with the communities and families affected.