The Canadian parliament was placed on lockdown after a gunman opened fire at the national war memorial in the country’s capital, Ottawa, on Wednesday morning. The shootings left the city in turmoil as police searched for suspects.
Ottawa police said that one shooting victim, a member of the Canadian forces, died from injuries suffered in the attack. As of Wednesday afternoon, police said no one was in custody and that they had locked down the area. Earlier suggestions of further suspects appeared to be false.
Some reporters and politicians in the area posted updates on social media as events unfolded on Parliament Hill.
A reporter for the Globe and Mail captured video of officers walking the halls of parliament, where they were met by the sounds of gunfire:
Conservative MP Nina Grewal shared a photo from inside of caucus, where people used chairs and other furniture to block entryways as police searched for the suspects. Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper left the area, is safe and has been briefed on the situation, said his communications director Jason Macdonald.
Pic from Conservative MP Nina Grewal of caucus is getting a lot of att'n on Twitter. @grahamctv: #ottawashooting. pic.twitter.com/vAuAopcJRD
— CTV Ottawa (@ctvottawa) October 22, 2014
Armed officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police swarmed Parliament Hill after the incident. The RCMP share jurisdiction of the area with House of Commons security and Senate security, while the area off of Parliament Hill is in Ottawa police’s jurisdiction.
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, 2014
By Wednesday afternoon, a lockdown was in effect in a radius about three to five miles around Parliament Hill. Law enforcement are sending away traffic, evacuating people out of the search zone and closing schools.
All oddly calm down here at the moment, although we've heard no reports that it's over. Whatever this 'it' is. pic.twitter.com/N4sJlePgQh
— kady o'malley (@kady) October 22, 2014
