President Lai extends condolences after deadly Canada school shooting

Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Thursday expressed condolences to the victims of a fatal school shooting in Canada, offering sympathies to the families of those killed and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

The shooting occurred Tuesday in the rural town of Tumbler Ridge in Canada's British Columbia province, killing nine people and injuring 27 others.

"Our hearts go out to the community of Tumbler Ridge following the recent tragedy," Lai wrote in a post on X. "The people of Taiwan extend our deepest condolences to the victims' loved ones, and we wish a swift recovery to all those injured. Our thoughts are with the people of Canada during this time."

Canadian authorities said the incident is among the most serious school shootings in the country's history.

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the suspect was an 18-year-old former student who was identified as a transgender woman named Jesse Van Rootselaar.

The suspect allegedly shot her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at their home before opening fire at her former high school, the RCMP said.

She later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police added.