At least 10 dead and more than 15 injured during knife attacks in an isolated region of Canada

A dozen people were killed

this Sunday in knife attacks in two remote communities in

according to police reports.

A manhunt has been launched in three provinces to locate

"We have located 10 deceased people in 13 locations in western

in the

and

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Deputy Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore told a news conference .

"Several other victims were injured, 15 of whom have so far been transferred to various hospitals," it added, indicating that police are looking for "two suspects" and investigating

Police on Sunday morning issued an alert about a person dangerous to the entire population of Saskatchewan, who was responding to "multiple knife attacks in multiple locations" at the James Smith Cree Nation Aboriginal community and the nearby town of Weldon.

Police received a first call at 5:40 a.m. local time of a stabbing at the James Smith Cree Nation, which was followed by others, Blackmore said.

The suspects. ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE / EFE

Authorities believe "some of the victims were targets of the suspects and others were randomly targeted," he said.

The suspects were first reported in

the provincial capital, more than 300 kilometers to the south.

The alert and search then spread to neighboring

and

a vast region half the size of Europe.

Saskatchewan's health authority told AFP it had activated emergency protocols to care for "a high number of critical patients."

"We can confirm that a number of people are being referred and managed at various centers and a call for additional staff has been made to help respond to this situation," he added.

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