Canada had already raised its national terrorism alert level today, following an incident Monday in which a Canadian soldier was killed in a hit-and-run by a man suspected to have been a radicalized jihadist.
A gunman fatally shot a Canadian soldier in an attack near the Parliament in what the prime minster called a “terrorist” act.
The gunman, who was shot and killed inside the Parliament building, has been identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian national. The slain soldier was Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, a reservist from Hamilton, Ontario.
Ottawa police first learned of the attacks after receiving multiple 911 calls at 9:52 a.m. about a shooting at the National War Memorial. Gunfire was later reported inside the Parliament building, less than 400 yards away. The Parliament building was put into lockdown as government officials hid in their offices while police searched the sprawling building.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a televised statement to the nation this evening about the incident. “Let there be no misunderstanding, we will not be intimidated, Canada will never be intimidated,” he said, noting this was the second attack against the country this week.
“In the days to come we will learn more about the terrorist and any accomplices,” he added. Harper said the government would work to “keep Canada safe and fight against terrorist organizations that are brutalizing so many people around the world in the hope of keeping their savagery from reaching our shores.”
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