MONTREAL, June 29, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Two suspected bank robbers were killed
Tuesday during a shootout with police in western Canada that left six
officers injured, local authorities said, adding that a possible third
suspect was still missing.
"This remains an ongoing police incident with the heavy police presence in
the area," said Saanich police chief Dean Duthie at a press conference.
Around 11:00 am (1800 GMT), two armed suspects entered a bank in Saanich, a
city of approximately 114,000 outside the British Columbia capital of
Victoria, police said in a statement.
"Multiple officers responded to the scene and encountered the armed suspects
who fired at police. Two suspects were shot by police and died at the scene,"
the statement said, adding that no bank employees or members of the public
were physically injured.
"It's hard because we have members in the hospital right now suffering from
serious injuries," Duthie said.
He noted that, as of late Tuesday, three of the six injured officers were
undergoing surgery, while the other three may be released from the hospital.
Earlier in the day, an evacuation order was issued for the buildings
surrounding the bank because of a suspected explosive device found in the
suspects' vehicle.
The day's events will "shake a lot of people," said Duthie, adding that
federal police had been called to assist.