Soldier killed in shootout near Canadian parliament, gunman shot dead
In an attack that police believe involved more than one gunman in the Canadian capital city, a soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial was killed and a security guard in the nearby parliament buildings left wounded Wednesday.
“Condolences to family of the soldier killed and prayers for the parliamentary guard wounded. Canada will not be terrorized or intimidated,” Xinhua cited Canada’s Minister of Employment and Social Development Jason Kenney as saying in a tweet.
One gunman is dead, but parts of Canada’s capital remain on lockdown as police hunt for more suspects, BBC reported. At a press conference, police said the situation was “ongoing” and “fluid”.
The incident occurred hours after Canada raised its terror threat level, after another soldier was killed Monday in a hit-and-run attack by a Muslim convert. Earlier this month, the country announced plans to join the US-led campaign of air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq.
But there was no confirmation any of this week’s attacks being linked to IS or the new military campaign, BBC report said.
Meanwhile, three separate shootings took place Wednesday morning inside the Canadian parliament, at the National War Memorial and near the Rideau Center shopping mall, respectively.
It is reported that a suspected gunman, after shooting the soldier at the National War Memorial, entered the adjacent parliament building where multiple gunshots were heard.
Police later confirmed that a gunman had been killed inside the building but said they were looking for possible more suspects.
A statement by Ottawa Police confirmed the soldier had died from his injuries.
Also earlier Tuesday, Canadian authorities raised the domestic terror threat level from low to medium after six Canadian CF-18 hornet fighters departed for the Middle East to join in military strike against the Islamic State (IS).