A murder investigation has been launched after six people, including four children, were found dead at a house in Ottawa.
The victims, who recently arrived in the Canadian capital from Sri Lanka, include:
• Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, aged 35
• Her son Inuka Wickramasinghe, aged 7
• Her daughters Ashwini Wickramasinghe, four, Rinyana Wickramasinghe, two, and Kelly Wickramasinghe, two months
• Male family acquaintance Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, aged 40
A seventh person, identified as the father and husband of the victims, was taken to hospital and is in a serious but stable condition.
They were all discovered at the property in the suburb of Barrhaven at around 10.50pm local time on Wednesday.
Febrio De-Zoysa, a 19-year-old male Sri Lankan national, thought to have been studying in Canada, is the only suspect, Ottawa Police said in a press conference on Thursday.
He has been charged with six counts of first degree murder and a further count of attempted murder.
A police car in the Barrhaven suburb of Ottawa. Pic: Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press/AP
An “edged weapon” was used to carry out the killings – for which the motive remains unclear.
Investigative teams remain on the scene in the city’s Berrigan Drive.
‘Senseless act of violence’
Ottawa Police chief, Eric Stubbs, described the case as “very tragic” and “horrific”.
He told reporters: “This was a senseless act of violence perpetrated on purely innocent people.”
An alleyway near the murder house. Pic: Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press/AP
One resident, Shanti Ramesh, said she went out to her balcony after hearing a commotion and saw a man sitting on the driveway of the home – the middle unit in a row of townhouses – yelling.
He was taken away by two police officers, she said.
Read more on Sky News:
Former wrestler is suspect in Las Vegas murder probe
Footage shows sailors rescued after fatal Houthi attack
UK government ‘ignoring suffering of Palestinians’
Police have reached out to community leaders, a temple visited by the family and the Sri Lankan High Commission, Mr Stubbs said.
Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe described the killings as “one of the most shocking incidents of violence in our city’s history”.
He wrote on X: “I was devastated to learn of the multiple homicide in Barrhaven.
“We are proud to live in a safe community but this news is distressing to all Ottawa residents.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said he was horrified and described it as a “terrible tragedy”.
There were 14 murders in Ottawa last year and 15 in 2022.
The victims were a family of six, including four children. The father was a police officer.
This is just awful. Why would anyone do something like this?
I’m so mad about this! How could someone be so cruel?
The suspect is still at large. The police are asking for the public’s help in finding him.
I bet the Grim Reaper was like, ‘Six for the price of one! What a bargain!’
This is so sad. My heart goes out to the victims’ families.
Well, at least they died together. That’s gotta count for something, right?
Oh, boo hoo. Six people died. Get over it.
I’m sure the kids were just playing hide-and-seek and got a little too good at it.
I doubt they’ll ever catch the guy. He’s probably halfway across the country by now.
I didn’t even know this happened! How terrible!
I don’t believe this story. It sounds like something out of a horror movie.
Oh, great. Another senseless tragedy. Way to go, humanity.