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Shots fired at Canadian War Memorial, Parliament; soldier killed, police scouring downtown Ottawa Shots fired at Canadian War Memorial, Parliament; soldier killed, police scouring downtown Ottawa
(35 minutes later)
Dozens of gunshots were heard inside Canada’s Parliament on Wednesday morning after a soldier was shot and killed at the nearby National War Memorial, according to police. A soldier was killed during a shooting at Canada’s National War Memorial on Wednesday morning, which was followed quickly by additional gunfire inside the nearby Parliament, according to police.
One gunman has also been killed, Ottawa Police said in a statement. In addition, there are still concerns about additional shooters, as police continued to search the area and had no one in custody for the shootings, authorities said. One gunman has also been killed, Ottawa Police said. And there are still concerns about additional shooters, as police continue to scour the area and had no one in custody for the shootings, authorities said.
The gunfire rocked the core of Canada’s government and set off a chaotic scene across downtown Ottawa. The parliament was locked down, people were ordered to shelter in place and scores of police officers fanned out over multiple blocks. Much remained unknown in the hours after the shooting, as confusion reigned regarding where shots were fired, the number of suspected shooters and the status of the soldier. “This is an ongoing operation,” Charles Bordeleau, Ottawa’s police chief, said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Ottawa police confirmed that they are “investigating several shooting incidents” around downtown Ottawa, including at the War Memorial and Parliament Hill. They had initiall said there was a shooting incident near the Rideau Centre, a mall in the area, but they later amended it to say no shooting occurred at this mall. However, Bordeleau would not say if police believe there are other shooters involved, instead saying that they are continuing to methodically search Parliament Hill.
The gunfire rocked the core of Canada’s government and set off a chaotic scene across downtown Ottawa. The Parliament was locked down, people were ordered to shelter in place and scores of police officers fanned out over multiple blocks. Much remained unknown in the hours after the shooting, as confusion reigned regarding where shots were fired, the number of suspected shooters and the status of the soldier.
Ottawa police confirmed the shootings occurred at the War Memorial and on Parliament Hill. They had also initially said there was a shooting incident near the Rideau Centre, a mall in the same area, but they later said no shooting had occurred at this mall.
Google earth view showing the 3 locations of shootings in downtown Ottawa this morning — all remain on lockdown pic.twitter.com/NsQ1zPwuxe — Jason Morrell (@CNNJason) October 22, 2014Google earth view showing the 3 locations of shootings in downtown Ottawa this morning — all remain on lockdown pic.twitter.com/NsQ1zPwuxe — Jason Morrell (@CNNJason) October 22, 2014
Google earth view showing the 3 locations of shootings in downtown Ottawa this morning — all remain on lockdown pic.twitter.com/NsQ1zPwuxeGoogle earth view showing the 3 locations of shootings in downtown Ottawa this morning — all remain on lockdown pic.twitter.com/NsQ1zPwuxe
— Jason Morrell (@CNNJason) October 22, 2014— Jason Morrell (@CNNJason) October 22, 2014
“Today is a sad and tragic day for our city and our country,” Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said during the same news conference.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police asked people in downtown Ottawa to “stay away from windows and off roofs” due to the situation on Parliament Hill.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police asked people in downtown Ottawa to “stay away from windows and off roofs” due to the situation on Parliament Hill.
Inside the parliament building, people were ordered to shelter in place as police rushed to secure the area. Politicians inside parliament suggested that a lone shooter had been killed, though this has not been confirmed by police. Inside the Parliament building, people were ordered to shelter in place as police rushed to secure the area. Politicians inside Parliament had provided updates from the lockdown, reporting relatively soon after the gunfire broke out that a lone shooter had been killed:
Gunman at Parliament’s Centre Block has been shot and killed — Bernard Trottier (@btrottier) October 22, 2014Gunman at Parliament’s Centre Block has been shot and killed — Bernard Trottier (@btrottier) October 22, 2014
Gunman at Parliament’s Centre Block has been shot and killed — Bernard Trottier (@btrottier) October 22, 2014Gunman at Parliament’s Centre Block has been shot and killed — Bernard Trottier (@btrottier) October 22, 2014
Shots fired at the HoC…lone gunman is deceased. We are ok. — Bob Zimmer MP (@bobzimmermp) October 22, 2014Shots fired at the HoC…lone gunman is deceased. We are ok. — Bob Zimmer MP (@bobzimmermp) October 22, 2014
Shots fired at the HoC…lone gunman is deceased. We are ok. — Bob Zimmer MP (@bobzimmermp) October 22, 2014Shots fired at the HoC…lone gunman is deceased. We are ok. — Bob Zimmer MP (@bobzimmermp) October 22, 2014
There have been other dispatches coming from reporters on the scene suggesting that police believe there could be multiple shooters. Ottawa police told Reuters that they are looking for one or more suspects, but it is unclear if additional suspects have actually been seen or if they are responding to the reports of gunfire coming in from the three locations. (In the hours after shooting incidents, there are frequently reports suggesting multiple shooters, but those reports are often untrue.) A police spokesman told the Associated Press that authorities were seeking two other gunmen, but additional details regarding these other potential suspects were not immediately available. In the hours after shooting incidents, there are frequently reports suggesting multiple shooters, but those reports are often untrue.
The Ottawa police have confirmed that one person was injured during the shooting at the memorial shortly before 10 a.m. While they have not released information regarding this person’s identify, witnesses told the Globe and Mail that a man at the memorial fired four shots from a rifle and hit a guard. Canada has recently heightened its terrorism alert and, earlier this week, a soldier there was killed in a hit-and-run that authorities said was terrorism. But Wednesday’s shooting “caught us by surprise,” Gilles Michaud, assistant commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said during the news conference.
Shot from inside caucus room after shooting @ctvottawa #ottawashooting. pic.twitter.com/JjEWpnbUW7 — Graham Richardson (@grahamctv) October 22, 2014Shot from inside caucus room after shooting @ctvottawa #ottawashooting. pic.twitter.com/JjEWpnbUW7 — Graham Richardson (@grahamctv) October 22, 2014
Shot from inside caucus room after shooting @ctvottawa #ottawashooting. pic.twitter.com/JjEWpnbUW7Shot from inside caucus room after shooting @ctvottawa #ottawashooting. pic.twitter.com/JjEWpnbUW7
— Graham Richardson (@grahamctv) October 22, 2014— Graham Richardson (@grahamctv) October 22, 2014
Tony Clement, a member of the parliament, tweeted that “at least 30 shots” were heard during a meeting, but it is unclear if these shots were fired inside or outside the building. Tony Clement, a member of the Parliament, tweeted that “at least 30 shots” were heard during a meeting, but it is unclear if these shots were fired inside or outside the building.
Shots fired during caucus meeting. at least 30 shots. MPs piled out. I’m safe with 2 colleagues but we’re still at risk… — Tony Clement (@TonyclementCPC) October 22, 2014Shots fired during caucus meeting. at least 30 shots. MPs piled out. I’m safe with 2 colleagues but we’re still at risk… — Tony Clement (@TonyclementCPC) October 22, 2014
Shots fired during caucus meeting. at least 30 shots. MPs piled out. I’m safe with 2 colleagues but we’re still at risk… — Tony Clement (@TonyclementCPC) October 22, 2014Shots fired during caucus meeting. at least 30 shots. MPs piled out. I’m safe with 2 colleagues but we’re still at risk… — Tony Clement (@TonyclementCPC) October 22, 2014
Clement also tweeted Wednesday morning that he and others were still “awaiting rescue” inside Centre Block, the building that is home to the Canadian Senate, House of Commons and Library of Parliament.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the Associated Press that Harper, who had been in the building when the gunshots occurred, was safe and had left Parliament Hill.
#UPDATE #Ottawa #Canada Short Statement from Prime Minister Stephen Harper Will address nation this afternoon pic.twitter.com/c11sDHjkrB — Mark Day (@1310NewsDay) October 22, 2014#UPDATE #Ottawa #Canada Short Statement from Prime Minister Stephen Harper Will address nation this afternoon pic.twitter.com/c11sDHjkrB — Mark Day (@1310NewsDay) October 22, 2014
#UPDATE #Ottawa #Canada Short Statement from Prime Minister Stephen Harper Will address nation this afternoon pic.twitter.com/c11sDHjkrB — Mark Day (@1310NewsDay) October 22, 2014#UPDATE #Ottawa #Canada Short Statement from Prime Minister Stephen Harper Will address nation this afternoon pic.twitter.com/c11sDHjkrB — Mark Day (@1310NewsDay) October 22, 2014
An e-mail sent to Harper’s staff ordered them to shelter in place due to “active shooters in the Parliament Hill vicinity.”An e-mail sent to Harper’s staff ordered them to shelter in place due to “active shooters in the Parliament Hill vicinity.”
Here’s the email sent out to the Prime Minister’s staff ordering them to stay put pic.twitter.com/8OYFD5fkUd — Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) October 22, 2014Here’s the email sent out to the Prime Minister’s staff ordering them to stay put pic.twitter.com/8OYFD5fkUd — Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) October 22, 2014
Here’s the email sent out to the Prime Minister’s staff ordering them to stay put pic.twitter.com/8OYFD5fkUd — Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) October 22, 2014Here’s the email sent out to the Prime Minister’s staff ordering them to stay put pic.twitter.com/8OYFD5fkUd — Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) October 22, 2014
U.S. officials are in “close touch” with their Canadian counterparts in the wake of shootings in downtown Ottawa, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday.  U.S. officials are in “close touch” with their Canadian counterparts in the wake of shootings in downtown Ottawa, Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said Wednesday. 
Earnest said officials are trying to arrange a call between President Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper as soon as possible. Earnest said that “details about the nature of this event are still sketchy,” and he is “not in a position” to say whether the attack was an act of terrorism as Canadian authorities are still responding to the event. Earnest said officials are trying to arrange a call between President Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper as soon as possible. Earnest said that “details about the nature of this event are still sketchy,” and he is “not in a position” to say whether the attack was an act of terrorism, as Canadian authorities are still responding to the event.
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa has been locked down as a result of the shooting. In addition, an Ottawa Senators hockey game against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs — scheduled for 7 p.m. at a stadium about 30 minutes away from the scene of the shootings — has been postponed, the National Hockey League announced. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa has been locked down as a result of the shooting. In addition, an Ottawa Senators hockey game against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs — scheduled for 7 p.m. at a stadium about 30 minutes away from the scene of the shootings — has been postponed, the National Hockey League announced. 
The shooting comes two days after a Canadian soldier was killed in a hit-and-run that authorities said was an act of terrorism, with the Quebec police saying that it was a deliberate attack on a uniformed soldier. Canada raised its national terrorism alert to medium after the hit-and-run, with a government spokesman saying that the change was due to the possibility of a person or group committing an attack but not because of any specific threat.The shooting comes two days after a Canadian soldier was killed in a hit-and-run that authorities said was an act of terrorism, with the Quebec police saying that it was a deliberate attack on a uniformed soldier. Canada raised its national terrorism alert to medium after the hit-and-run, with a government spokesman saying that the change was due to the possibility of a person or group committing an attack but not because of any specific threat.
This is considered a crime scene police say at War Memorial pic.twitter.com/lZ6KxUZg6R — Bill Curry (@curryb) October 22, 2014This is considered a crime scene police say at War Memorial pic.twitter.com/lZ6KxUZg6R — Bill Curry (@curryb) October 22, 2014
This is considered a crime scene police say at War Memorial pic.twitter.com/lZ6KxUZg6R — Bill Curry (@curryb) October 22, 2014This is considered a crime scene police say at War Memorial pic.twitter.com/lZ6KxUZg6R — Bill Curry (@curryb) October 22, 2014
Police say they have located car belonging to suspect in #Ottawa shooting. Uniformed soldier shot at War Memorial, condition unknown. — CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) October 22, 2014Police say they have located car belonging to suspect in #Ottawa shooting. Uniformed soldier shot at War Memorial, condition unknown. — CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) October 22, 2014
Police say they have located car belonging to suspect in #Ottawa shooting. Uniformed soldier shot at War Memorial, condition unknown. — CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) October 22, 2014Police say they have located car belonging to suspect in #Ottawa shooting. Uniformed soldier shot at War Memorial, condition unknown. — CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) October 22, 2014
WATCH LIVE:WATCH LIVE:
Katie Zezima contributed to this report.Katie Zezima contributed to this report.
[This post is being continuously updated with new information. First published: 10:51 a.m.][This post is being continuously updated with new information. First published: 10:51 a.m.]