At least four people dead in shooting in New Brunswick, Canada

At least four people have been killed in a shooting in Canada.

Police in the eastern Canadian city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, asked residents to avoid the area and stay in their homes while they dealt with the incident, which they said had left four people dead.

Fredericton Police later confirmed one suspect was in custody.

Earlier the force asked people to avoid the scene and urged onlookers not information about the position or activities of police or first responders while the incident was ‘active’.

Announcing that officers had one suspect in custody via Twitter, the force added: “Police continue to have the Brookside area contained for the foreseeable future as the investigation is ongoing. Please continue to avoid the area and follow us for the facts.”

Nick Moore, a reporter with CTV Atlantic, shared video footage of emergency services at the scene on Twitter.

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He described seeing police escorting people from their homes and said one woman had told him she heard what sounded like multiple gunshots just after 7am local time.

Ronald Fry wrote on Twitter: “This is so shocking for New Brunswickers, we live in peaceful harmony nearly all the time and when violence occurs its very hard to understand.”