Sgt. Rock
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A soldier guarding the National War Memorial was shot and killed Wednesday in the Canadian capital of Ottawa, and dozens of shots were fired minutes later in the halls of Parliament, witnesses and authorities said. Lawmakers barricaded themselves in their offices for safety.
Authorities said that a gunman was shot and killed by security forces, and hours after the attack began, police still could not say whether another gunman was on the loose. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was safely escorted from the scene, his spokesman said.
Ottawa Hospital said it had received two patients who were in stable condition.
“This is a dynamic and unfolding situation,” said Gilles Michaud, commanding officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s National Division.
There was no immediate information on a motive. The attack came at a time of heightened concern about terrorism in Canada. On Monday, a man described as a radical Islamic convert ran down two Canadian soldiers with his car, killing one.
And NBC News reported earlier this week that Canadian officials have been concerned about the potential for knife and gun attacks there, including on military personnel, because of the nation’s involvement in international fight against ISIS.
The attack paralyzed the center of the Canadian government after the first shots were fired just before 10 a.m. ET. For hours, there was confusion about the number of shooters. Marc Soucy of the Ottawa police told MSNBC at mid-afternoon: “We’re not sure how many suspects there are. We’re still actively looking.”
There were also reports of shots fired at a nearby mall, the Rideau Centre, but police later said that nothing had happened there.
The soldier was standing guard across the street from Parliament at the War Memorial, a tall granite cenotaph adorned with bronze figures representing Canadians who fought in World War I. The soldier was not immediately identified. Police said they were notifying his relatives.
Inside Parliament, which was in session, a volley of gunfire could be heard for about 10 seconds in a video posted online by the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail. Sen. George Baker, a member of Parliament, told MSNBC from his office, where he was holed up, that about 50 shots had been fired.
Prayers and thoughts go out to the familes and victims but to ISIS and their followers..go to hell.
Authorities said that a gunman was shot and killed by security forces, and hours after the attack began, police still could not say whether another gunman was on the loose. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was safely escorted from the scene, his spokesman said.
Ottawa Hospital said it had received two patients who were in stable condition.
“This is a dynamic and unfolding situation,” said Gilles Michaud, commanding officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s National Division.
There was no immediate information on a motive. The attack came at a time of heightened concern about terrorism in Canada. On Monday, a man described as a radical Islamic convert ran down two Canadian soldiers with his car, killing one.
And NBC News reported earlier this week that Canadian officials have been concerned about the potential for knife and gun attacks there, including on military personnel, because of the nation’s involvement in international fight against ISIS.
The attack paralyzed the center of the Canadian government after the first shots were fired just before 10 a.m. ET. For hours, there was confusion about the number of shooters. Marc Soucy of the Ottawa police told MSNBC at mid-afternoon: “We’re not sure how many suspects there are. We’re still actively looking.”
There were also reports of shots fired at a nearby mall, the Rideau Centre, but police later said that nothing had happened there.
The soldier was standing guard across the street from Parliament at the War Memorial, a tall granite cenotaph adorned with bronze figures representing Canadians who fought in World War I. The soldier was not immediately identified. Police said they were notifying his relatives.
Inside Parliament, which was in session, a volley of gunfire could be heard for about 10 seconds in a video posted online by the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail. Sen. George Baker, a member of Parliament, told MSNBC from his office, where he was holed up, that about 50 shots had been fired.
Prayers and thoughts go out to the familes and victims but to ISIS and their followers..go to hell.
