Snake 'strangles two children' in New Brunswick, Canada

A snake escaped from a pet shop and killed
two children in the Canadian province of
New Brunswick, police say.
In a statement, the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police said they believed the reptile had
strangled two boys, aged five and seven, in
Campbellton.
The boys were staying overnight at a friend's
apartment above the pet shop.
Police said they believe the snake slipped out
of its cage overnight and travelled through the
ventilation. The serpent has been captured by
police.
'Tragedy'
Officers were called to the address on Monday
morning where the two boys were found dead,
said a police statement. The flat was located
above the Reptile Ocean exotic pet store.
"The preliminary investigation has led police to
believe that a large exotic snake had escaped
its enclosure at the store sometime overnight,
and got into the ventilation system, then into
the upstairs apartment," said the statement .
Post-mortem examinations will be performed
on the two boys, thought to be brothers, on
Tuesday. No charges have been laid so far.
Campbellton's deputy mayor, Ian Comeau, said
the incident was a "tragedy".
"The city is in shock," he added.
In a Facebook message, Reptile Ocean wrote:
"Deepest sympathies goes out to the family of
the children. A terrible accident without a
meaning."
The store said it would temporarily suspend its
online account because users had posted
"demeaning comments".
Initial reports suggested the reptile may have
been a boa constrictor, but officials later said
they believed it was an African rock python.
The owner of Reptile Ocean told CTV News that
he had had the snake since 2001.