Canadian Soldier Shot at Ottawa War Memorial
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said the shooting of a soldier guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa is a reminder the country is "not immune" to terrorist attacks.
Police said the member of the Canadian Forces "succumbed to injuries" following a series of shooting incidents in the city yesterday morning.
The soldier was named locally as Corporal Nathan Cirillo, with his name trending on Twitter and thousands praising him on other social media.
Canadian officials identified the gunman who killed him as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a man government sources said was a recent convert to Islam. He was shot dead, reportedly by parliament's sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers.
In his first address to the nation since the attack, prime minister
Stephen Harper condemned it as a " brutal attack" and said the country would continue to work with allies in the fight against extremist organisations.
"For the second time this week, there has been a brutal and violent act on our soil," Mr Harper, who was evacuated from the parliament building at the time of the shooting, said.
"In the days to come we will learn more about the terrorist and any accomplices he may have had. This week's events are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to the types of terrorist attacks we have seen elsewhere around the world.
"But let there be no misunderstanding, we will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated. They will have no safe haven."
David Cameron responded to the events on Twitter.
"I'm appalled by today's attack in Ottawa. I offer my full support to @pmharper and the Canadian people as they deal with this incident," the Prime Minister wrote.
MP Craig Scott wrote on Twitter: "MPs and Hill staff owe their safety, even lives, to sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers who shot attacker just outside the MPs' caucus rooms."
Video filmed from inside the parliament building shows officers rushing down a large marble hallway with weapons drawn in front of them, before the sound of gunfire and shouting rings out. The footage becomes shaky as the cameraman, believed to be a local reporter, rushes for cover behind a pillar.
This is considered a crime scene police say at War Memorial pic.twitter.com/lZ6KxUZg6R
— Bill Curry (@curryb) October 22, 2014Happening now at the war memorial #ottnewspic.twitter.com/MvXICBIa75
— Carys Mills (@CarysMills) October 22, 2014More sirens, more cars speeding to the Hill. #hwpic.twitter.com/B2u2rNHtPJ
— kady o'malley (@kady) October 22, 2014Reporters saying this is a suspect's car. Older model Toyota Corolla parked in front of Hill still running. #ottnewspic.twitter.com/LH0pGhGaeB
— Joe Lofaro (@giuseppelo) October 22, 2014Soldier on guard at National War Memorial in #Ottawa, #Canada shot by gunman https://t.co/xmtWcDxctEpic.twitter.com/xipTCtsPjr via @connortryan
— Jeffrey Guterman PhD (@JeffreyGuterman) October 22, 2014Join Our Newsletter
