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POLICE have foiled a Valentine's Day massacre plot at a shopping mall in Halifax, Canada.

The two suspects, a 23-year-old woman and 19-year-old man, were planning to open fire in the mall and kill as many people as possible before carrying out their own double-suicide.

Detectives uncovered the pair on an online chat stream after they exchanged messages and photos showing their obsession with death and mass killings.

Police were tipped off about the plot and surrounded the home of the teenage suspect - who then shot himself to death.

The female suspect, from Geneva, Illinois, was arrested at Halifax's airport and confessed to the plot. Police say she wrote a number of messages to be tweeted after her death.

Police said the suspects had access to firearms.

"Had they been able to carry out their intentions the possibility for a large loss of life was definitely there," Brian Brennan, Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commanding Officer, said.

"We believe we have apprehended all known individuals in this matter and have eliminated the threat. We are not seeking any further suspects at this time in relation to this investigation."

Police surrounded the teenage suspect's home after seeing two people leave the house who they suspected were his parents. They then called the suspect.

As the man told police that he didn't have any guns and he was on his way out of the house he shot himself, the official said.

Police earlier said two other Nova Scotia men, ages 20 and 17, were also involved, although investigators are still trying to determine what their roles were.

The police official said the 17-year-old male was wanted for threatening to shoot up a high school and had an outstanding warrant.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney applauded the work of police in Canada and Geneva, Illinois and well as border officials in a statement.

The Geneva police department said in a statement they were contacted by Canadian police and had no contact with the American woman before her arrest.

Canadian Justice Minister Peter MacKay has scheduled a news conference for Saturday morning.

Police and other officials said it was not related to Islamic terrorism.