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Tumbler Ridge community reeling after shooting incident

Residents of the isolated community have expressed feelings of apprehension and unease following the deaths of nine individuals.

A devastating shooting in Tumbler Ridge, a small Canadian town, has left nine people dead and at least 25 injured, with the community reeling in shock and disbelief after the attack at a local secondary school and home.

Policeman stands beside police car parked half across a residential road with mountain behind in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia — The shootings have sent shock waves through the small town

Located 415 miles northeast of Vancouver, the remote town of Tumbler Ridge, with a population of just 2,500, was thrown into chaos as residents struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy during the school lockdown.

The close-knit community, where everyone knows each other, is now grappling with the aftermath of the shooting, which has left a profound impact on the town's residents.

According to town mayor Darryl Krakowka, the tragedy is particularly personal, as he has lived in Tumbler Ridge for 19 years and is familiar with many of the victims, stating, "I will know every victim."

Krakowka emphasized the strong sense of community in Tumbler Ridge, saying, "I don't refer to them as residents, I call them family."

Chris Norbury, a town councillor, was deeply affected by the shooting, as his wife teaches at the secondary school, his daughter attends a nearby elementary school, and he works at a visitor centre in close proximity to the school.

In an interview with the BBC World Service's Newsday programme, Norbury described the anxiety and fear he felt as he waited for news about his wife's safety.

Norbury first became aware of the situation when his daughter's school informed him of the lockdown, and he was able to contact his wife, who was also under lockdown, but subsequent attempts to reach her were unsuccessful after he received an emergency alert about an active shooter.

Norbury explained that he had to rely on social media for updates, which led to speculation and uncertainty, but he attempted to remain calm and wait for official confirmation.

However, this proved to be a challenging task, as the uncertainty and fear took a toll on him.

Norbury described the experience as "terrifying," saying, "It's difficult to put into words the dread and fear you feel when you know a loved one is in danger."

As he waited for news, Norbury witnessed emergency vehicles, including helicopters, arriving at the school and a nearby medical centre.

Darian Quist, a grade 12 student, was in a classroom with a teacher and about 15 students when the lockdown alarm sounded, and although he believes he was in a different part of the school from the shooting, he and his classmates took precautions by barricading the doors with tables.

Quist told CBC that they remained in the classroom for approximately two to two-and-a-half hours, during which time people sent him disturbing photos, which made the reality of the situation sink in.

He recalled that everyone in the classroom was tense and nervous, and the photos he received had a profound impact on him.

Quist's mother, Shelley, was working at the local hospital at the time and was in contact with her son throughout the lockdown, but she only learned about the shooter half an hour after the lockdown began.

Shelley Quist described the experience as surreal, saying, "It's one of those things you never think will happen," and added that panic set in until she was reunited with her son.

The lockdown was finally lifted after 17:00 local time, and Norbury was able to confirm his wife's safety, while Quist described the departure from the school as "organised chaos."

Despite the professionalism displayed during the evacuation, those involved were still unaware of the full extent of the tragedy until the casualty figures were released.

Quist noted that many people were shaken by the news, especially when they learned the true numbers of victims.

The town is still coming to terms with the tragedy, and although the names of the victims have not been released, it is clear that the community has been deeply affected.

Quist reflected on the impact of the tragedy, saying, "A lot of people are shaken up right now, especially when we were told the true numbers."

The close-knit community of Tumbler Ridge is struggling to cope with the aftermath of the shooting.

Norbury expressed his concern that he may have known some of the children involved in the shooting, given his role as a children's librarian for 10 years.

A map showing the small town of Tumbler Ridge as a satellite aerial shot. The location of the secondary school is marked on the map. In the bottom left hand corner there is a map of Canada and the US with a mark showing Tumbler Ridge is in western Canada.

He emphasized the need for the community to come together and support each other, saying, "We have to think about how to rely on each other for support, as these are our friends and their children who have been injured or lost their lives."

Norbury also noted that the town has never experienced a crime of this magnitude before, and the shock is still being felt, adding, "We're a tight-knit community, and this is an incredible shock."

Norbury reflected on the long-term effects of the shooting on the community, expressing concerns about the impact on the town's children.

He wondered, "How many people will be afraid to go to school? How many will this affect for the rest of their lives?" and emphasized the need for support and resilience.

Norbury offered a message of hope, saying, "If I could talk to those people, I'd say, don't let this define you. Please get help when you need help. We are strong and resilient, and we will get through this."

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Serie A to air on BBC with live coverage of Scottish matches

A new multi-game rights deal has enabled the BBC to broadcast live coverage of matches featuring several Scotland internationals, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Kieron Bowie, and Josh Doig, starting this Sunday.

A number of Scottish players, including Che Adams, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lennon Miller, and Lewis Ferguson, are currently competing in Italy's top division, Serie A.

The upcoming Serie A match between Torino and Bologna will be a notable fixture, featuring several Scottish players.

The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 15 February, with a kick-off time of 17:00 GMT, at a venue that will be announced.

Fans can catch the live coverage of the match on BBC Alba, starting from 16:50.

A growing list of Scottish players, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Josh Doig, and Kieron Bowie, are making a name for themselves in Serie A.

With a record number of Scots playing in Italy's top flight, the BBC is now providing live coverage of their matches, allowing fans to follow their favorite players.

As part of a new package, the BBC will broadcast eight live Serie A matches, showcasing the talents of Scottish players as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

The first match to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be the encounter between Torino, featuring striker Che Adams, and Bologna, featuring midfielder Lewis Ferguson, on Sunday, with a 17:00 GMT kick-off.

Bologna will be looking to bounce back from five consecutive domestic defeats, despite recent impressive results in the Europa League and against Celtic.

During their recent run, Bologna drew 2-2 with Celtic and secured a 3-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.

Torino, on the other hand, has only managed one win in their last five outings but will be seeking to build on their recent 2-2 draw against Fiorentina.

Scotland's Nations League campaign is set to begin in Slovenia.

Clarke has confirmed that Barnes will not be making a switch to Scotland.

Scotland is scheduled to face Switzerland in the Nations League.

Future BBC Alba broadcasts will feature matches involving Napoli's Scottish duo, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, who is nearing a return from injury, as well as Lennon Miller's Udinese, Josh Doig's Sassuolo, and Kieron Bowie's Hellas Verona.

The number of Scottish players in Serie A has reached a record high, with the likes of Liam Henderson, who has played for several Italian clubs, now competing in Serie B.

Further details of the Serie A matches to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be announced in the coming weeks.

Margaret Cameron, director of content at BBC Alba, expressed her excitement about the opportunity for Scottish fans to watch their favorite players in action, free-to-air, ahead of the World Cup.

Presenter Alex O'Henley is looking forward to hosting the coverage of what he describes as a "golden era" for Scottish players in Italy.

With the World Cup approaching, O'Henley believes it's an exciting time for Scottish fans to follow the fortunes of their players in Italy.

Kieron Bowie made his debut for Verona against Pisa.

Che Adams, who was born in Leicester, has established himself as a key player for Scotland, earning 45 caps and scoring 11 goals since switching allegiances in 2021.

This season, Adams has scored six goals in 26 appearances for Torino, who currently sit 13th in the Serie A table.

Kieron Bowie, who began his career with Raith Rovers, has risen to prominence with Hibernian, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances before joining Hellas Verona in January.

Bowie made his debut for Verona in a 0-0 draw against Pisa, earning his first start for the club.

Josh Doig, who started his career with Hibernian, has become a regular player in Serie A, first with Verona and now with Sassuolo, earning one cap for Scotland.

Doig has made 24 appearances, including 20 starts, for Sassuolo this season.

Lewis Ferguson, who began his career with Hamilton Academical, has become a key player for Bologna, earning 21 caps for Scotland and leading his team to a Coppa Italia final win over AC Milan.

Ferguson has made 29 appearances, including 21 starts, for Bologna this season, helping the team to eighth place in the table.

Billy Gilmour, who started his career with Rangers, has played for several clubs, including Chelsea and Norwich City, before joining Napoli in 2024, where he won his first league title.

Gilmour has been limited to 12 appearances, including six starts, this season due to injury, but is nearing a return to action.

Scott McTominay, who came through Manchester United's youth ranks, has become a key player for Napoli, earning 67 caps for Scotland and scoring 14 goals, including a notable overhead kick against Denmark.

McTominay has made 34 appearances for Napoli this season, scoring 10 goals and helping the team to a strong position in the table.

Lennon Miller, who began his career with Motherwell, has made a promising start to his career, earning four caps for Scotland and joining Udinese in August.

Miller has made 14 appearances, including six starts, for Udinese this season.

Fans can stay up-to-date with their favorite clubs through BBC Sport.

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GB men’s curling team suffers upset defeat to Italy

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s men’s curling team mounted a comeback against Italy following a disappointing beginning, ultimately falling short in their inaugural match.

Despite a valiant comeback, Team GB ultimately fell short as Italy held their composure to secure the win in the final end.

A dismal start to the match proved costly for Team GB's men, as they suffered their first defeat of the Winter Olympics at the hands of host nation Italy, despite a spirited fightback in the packed Cortina Curling Stadium.

Following victories in their first two matches, including a win over the Swedish rink that beat them in the gold-medal match four years ago, Team GB entered their second high-profile encounter in as many days in a confident position.

However, a disastrous opening end, in which Italy stole four points, left Team GB trailing and facing an uphill battle in front of a boisterous home crowd.

The British team, currently ranked number one in the world, gradually regained their footing and managed to level the score by the ninth end.

Ultimately, Italy maintained their composure in the final end to emerge victorious, winning 9-7 and adding Team GB to their list of scalps, which already included the Swedes.

"We had to dig deep and play some solid curling, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get us over the line," Team GB lead Hammy McMillan said in an interview with BBC Sport.

With seven wins from nine round-robin matches guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, Team GB remains in a strong position, although fewer wins may still be sufficient to advance.

The women's team is set to take to the ice next, facing South Korea in their second match at 13:05 GMT, while the men will return to action on Saturday against the Czech Republic at the same time.

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The looks of shock on the faces of Team GB's curlers told the story of a disastrous opening end.

With a stone in play, Mouat attempted a risky shot in an effort to claim two points, but it backfired, resulting in none of Team GB's stones in the house and four Italian stones in position.

However, the Scottish quartet, ranked number one in the world, quickly regained their composure and got back to their game.

The teams exchanged singles before a impressive final throw by Mouat, aided by a measurement to determine which stone was closest to the button, allowed Team GB to claim two points and narrow the gap to 5-3.

Another excellent team effort, which included a well-judged throw by Mouat, a solid sweep by Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, and Grant Hardie's strategic expertise, forced Italy to concede a point in the fourth end, reducing the deficit to a single point at the break.

Italy blanked the sixth end and added two points in the seventh to rebuild their lead, but Team GB fought back with two points of their own, remarkably levelling the score with one end remaining after a steal.

The match came down to the final end, but Italy held their nerve to secure the win, prompting a deafening roar from the crowd.

"It's an incredible experience, and we need to get used to it," McMillan added, describing the electric atmosphere as "surreal" and "cool," more akin to a football match than a typical curling crowd.

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Scotland Kicks Off Nations League Against Slovenia

Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland set to begin their campaign on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.

Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland's campaign set to begin on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.

The team's six group stage games will be played within a three-month period, culminating in a match against Switzerland on 16 November.

The fixture list was announced following Thursday's draw, which placed Scotland in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.

Having been relegated from League A after a play-off loss to Greece last year, Scotland will compete in the second tier of the Nations League this year.

In response to the draw, head coach Steve Clarke noted that the teams in the group appear to be evenly matched.

Clarke reflected on the team's past experience in the competition, stating that it has been beneficial for Scotland.

He emphasized the importance of the Nations League, citing its role in helping the team qualify for Euro 2020, and anticipated a challenging set of matches.

A key matchup in the Nations League will see Scotland face off against Switzerland.

The group stage will determine the teams' fates, with the winner earning promotion, the runner-up entering a play-off, the third-placed team facing a relegation play-off, and the fourth-placed team being relegated directly.

The upcoming group games will mark a reunion for Scotland and Switzerland, who previously drew 1-1 in Cologne at Euro 2024.

Scotland's last encounter with Slovenia was during the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, when they won 1-0 at home and drew 2-2 away.

The team has not played North Macedonia since the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, when they drew 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away, with goals from Ikechi Anya and Shaun Maloney.

The schedule for Scotland's Nations League campaign begins on 26 September with a match against Slovenia.

The team will then host Switzerland on 29 September, followed by a trip to face North Macedonia on 3 October.

Scotland will then play Slovenia at home on 6 October, before hosting North Macedonia on 11 November.

The final group stage match will see Scotland travel to face Switzerland on 16 November.

The team's home match against North Macedonia is set for 11 November.

The campaign will conclude with an away match against Switzerland on 16 November.