A GUNMAN who disguised himself as a cop has killed at least 16 people in Canada in a deadly 12 hour shooting spree.

Officials say suspected shooter Gabriel Wortman has also died following the attack in the province of Nova Scotia, which is believed to be the deadliest in the the country's history.

3 Armed cops are pictured near the scene of the deadly shooting in Enfield, Nova Scotia

Officials say suspected shooter Gabriel Wortman, 51, has also died following the attack

3 RCMP constable and mum-of-two Heidi Stevenson was killed while responding to the shooting on Sunday

Police said the suspect Gabriel Wortman, a 51-year old denturist, shot people at a variety of locations in Nova Scotia while driving what appeared to be a police vehicle.

The 12-hour shooting spree began on Saturday night, and ended just before noon local time on Sunday.

The bodies of a number of victims were found inside and outside one home in the town of Portapique, about 80 miles north of Halifax.

Bodies were also recovered at other locations, as it is believed that the shooter may have targeted his initial victims but then decided to attack randomly.

Police arrested Wortman at a petrol station 60 miles south of where the shooting occurred just before noon on Sunday, following an exchange of gunfire between the officers and the suspect.

They later confirmed that the suspect had died, and was not in any way affiliated to the RCMP.

Photos show armed police surrounding a car at a gas station and a body being removed from the scene, though police not yet released full details regarding the suspect's death.

It has not been clarified yet whether the attack was motivated, and how Wortman was able to obtain what looked like a police car.

One of the tragic victims was Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable (RCMP) Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year veteran of the Nova Scotia police service.

The mother of two was shot while responding to the incident, Nova Scotia RCMP Commanding Officer, Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman confirmed in a Facebook post.

Workers remove a body from a gas station in Nova Scotia following the shooting

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) members pack up after the search for Gabriel Wortman in Nova Scotia

A statement from Brian Suavé, the President of the National Police Federation union president, read: "Our hearts are heavy with grief and sadness today as we have lost one of our own. Our thoughts go out to our Member’s family and friends.

"A second dedicated Member was injured in the line of duty today. We will do everything we can to support them and wish them a full recovery."

Nova Scotia's premier Stephen McNeil said the the shooting was "one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province's history".

He added: "I never imagined when I went to bed last night that I would wake up to the horrific news that an active shooter was on the loose in Nova Scotia."

Christine Mills, a resident of the area, said it had been a frightening night for the small town, with armed officers patrolling the streets and helicopters used to search for the suspect.

She said: "It’s nerve-wracking because you don’t know if somebody has lost their mind and is going to beat in your front door."

RCMP spokesman Daniel Brien confirmed that 17 people had been killed in addition to the suspect, and added he could not rule out that the death toll could still rise.

'TOGETHER WE MOURN'

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, which overhauled its gun-control laws after its worst mass shooting in 1989, when gunman Marc Lepine killed 14 women and himself at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique college.

It is illegal to possess an unregistered handgun or any kind of rapid-fire weapon in the country, which also requires training, a personal risk assessment, two references, spousal notification and criminal record checks to purchase a weapon.

In a statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: "As a country, in moments like these, we come together to support one another. Together we will mourn with the families of the victims, and help them get through this difficult time."

Police alerted the community that Wortman may have been driving what appeared to be an RCMP vehicle

Police officers speak with a man near Portapique Beach Road after finishing theri search for Gabriel Wortman

Tom Taggart, a lawmaker who represents the Portapique area in the Municipality of Colchester, said the quiet community has been shaken.

He said: "This is just an absolutely wonderful, peaceful quiet community and the idea that this could happen in our community is unbelievable."

"People live here because of the peace and quiet and it's just an absolute tragedy."

Gabriel Wortman is listed as a denturist — a person who makes dentures — in the city of Dartmouth, near Halifax, according to the Denturist Society of Nova Scotia website.

Mr Taggart said he didn't know Wortman well, but described knowing of his "lovely big home" on Portapique Beach Road.

It is believed that he divided his time between Portapique and his business in Dartmouth.

A suspect photo issued by the RCMP appears to be of the same person seen in video footage being interviewed about dentures by CTV Atlantic in 2014.

Gabriel Wortman is listed as a denturist in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

The highway in Enfield, Nova Scotia was blocked off by police

Mass shooter on the run 'in mock cop car and wearing police uniform' after shooting 'several victims'

3 The National Police Federation confirmed the cops death

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