Breaking: Montreal's Dawson College Shootings

Details are sketchy at this point, but it appears that a young, caucasian male (reportedly 19 years old) dressed in black (described as 'goth' or 'military style') has opened fire in Montreal's Dawson College which handles some 10,000 students. CBC is saying that at least 3 or 4 people were critically injured and that the gunman allegedly shot himself as well. An updated report also speculates there were 2 gunmen - one shot by the police and the other who committed suicide.

These shootings, of course, will take many back to the massacre of 14 women at the Ecole Polytechnique in 1989 - one of the darkest days in Canada's history.

You can follow the developments online at CBC and CTV along with the Canadian newspapers in the Media Resources list on the left of this page marked by the red maple leaf icon.

Information hotline for parents, family and friends only:
514-280-2886 (reported incorrectly by CTV) or 514-280-2880; 514-280-2805 or 514-280-2806

Update: RDI is reporting that 4 people have been killed and 16 are injured. It's not clear if the two gunmen are included in those figures. CBC Newsworld is also reporting that there may possibly have been a 3rd gunman.

Update: Montreal's radio station 940 News is also covering the situation and you can listen to their broadcast online.

Update: The information hotline at Montreal General Hospital is (514) 843-2839. The latest news is that the hospital has received at least 12 victims with injuries - 2 of which are reportedly in surgery. Please take a moment to keep all of them, their families and friends in your thoughts as this day progresses.

2 victims were also taken to the Jewish General Hospital, according to a hospital spokeperson.

CBC has an online photo gallery of the day's events.

4:30 pm ET: News conferences by the Montreal Police and the Montreal General Hospital are reportedly scheduled to occur any minute now.

MGH press conference: (I missed the beginning). All of the injuries were from gunshots; 3 patients went to Jean Talon Hospital as well.

Montreal Police press conference: will only talk about one suspect who died 'following the intervention of police officers'; no information on possible motives of the suspect; won't release the sex of the victims; 'the suspect was killed by police'; can't confirm if there are other suspects in the area; 'I cannot confirm that there is another suspect at this time'; 'there is no racist connotation or terrorist connection' at this time; can't provide more information about the suspect at this time because they are working with the QPP on a policy. (translated from French via CBC; CTV's translator sucks)

Update: Dawson College will be closed until Monday.

The Montreal Gazette has more.