Eight people including two young children have been killed by a man in Canada, in what police have called a "senseless mass murder".

The gunman is believed to have then taken his own life.

Police say they believe the killings are separate but linked.

Seven bodies were found in a house on Monday night, in the north of the city of Edmonton, while one was discovered in the southwest of the city and a further one was found in Fort Saskatchewan, according to CBC.

Police found the seven bodies when they responded to a call on Monday evening. The scene is still under investigation.

The body of a woman was also found on Monday night, at a separate location in the south of the city.

The ninth body was found in Fort Saskatchewan, a city north of Edmonton.

CBC reports that the windows and doors of a restaurant – VN Express Vietnamese and Chinese Restaurant – were blown out.

Police Chief Rod Knecht told a news conference officers are not looking for any other suspects:

Originally posted at 22:11, December 30th