Shots have been fired and a soldier was seen falling at the Canadian war memorial. The story is breaking on Bloomberg headlines, they also note that police are on the scene. (see below for updates)
The early report says the attack is near Parliament which means it’s probably at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa, which is guarded by usually two soldiers 24 hours per day. They’d be a target if someone was looking to kill Canadian soldiers.
Earlier this week, a soldier was killed by a radical Islamist at a Canadian shopping centre.
ISIS has called for followers in other countries to attack.
soldiers guarding the tomb of the unknown soldier in Ottawa
Update: Other news organizations are now confirming the initial report. There are fresh reports that Parliament is on lockdown and that the shooter is active.
Update 2: Police confirm that the shooter is still at large. Reuters reports from an eyewitness at the scene that the shooter drove away in a car.
Update 3: The first photos are emerging.
Soldier shot at Canadian war memorial Oct 22 2014 CBC photo
Update 4: Alain Merisier. who works at the cafeteria in the Parliament building, told CBC News that said he saw a man in a car at the Centre Block with a long gun.
Witnesses said they then heard shots fired, and there was an unconfirmed report of a person injured outside the Library of Parliament.
Scott Walsh, who was working on Parliament Hill, said he saw a man running with double-barrelled shotgun, wearing a scarf and blue jeans.
Walsh said the man hopped over the wall or fence that surrounds Parliament Hill?, with his gun forcing someone out of their car. He then drove to the front doors of Parliament and fired at least two shot, Walsh said.
Update 5: There are early reports that the gunman has been shot and killed in Parliament’s Centre Block.
Update 6: Two Canadian parliamentarians have now reported on twitter that the gunman has been killed. One is Bernard Trottier.
Update 7: The Bank of Canada may cancel its scheduled 11:15 am ET press conference after shooting
Update 8: There are reports that a second person was injured outside the Library of Parliament
Update 9: Member of Parliament Hélène Laverdière reports she heard 20 to 30 shots
Update 10: CTV showed video of someone being removed from Parliament on a stretcher.
Person injured in shooting in Canada Oct 22
Update 11: The area of the memorial, parliament and the Bank of Canada is small. The BOC is on the street facing parliament.
Scene of shooting in Canada
Update 12: There are now fresh reports of shots fired near Chateau Laurier, which is near the upper righthand side of the image. The US embassy is nearby.
Update 13: CBC reports that Ottawa Police Service is reassuring an eye witness giving statement that one man- the shooter- is dead.
Update 14: Raw footage where you can hear the shots has emerged.
Update 15: The reporter who took the video says police now say there were 3 separate shootings. One in parliament, one at war memorial, one at Rideau Centre mall. The mall is about a block from National War Memorial. There are varying reports of 2 or 3 shooters.
Update 16: The latest is that the mall shooting was outside and that’s almost directly across from the war memorial so it’s still entirely possible it was a single shooter.
Update 17: “We were waiting there for a city tour and suddenly I heard four shots,” said Jan Luchtenburg, a tourist visiting downtown Ottawa from Holland.
“Suddenly I saw a small guy with long black hair… with a long rifle, and he ran away after the shots, across streets in the direction of Parliament Hill,” he said.
Update 18: There is talk of a suspect who fled on a motorcycle and is on the highway.
Update 19: Shots fired as recently as 12:20 pm ET, according to the staff of a lawmaker – BBG
Update 20: Kevin Vickers, Sargent at Arms, Former RCMP at Ottawa police station giving statement. Reports he shot suspect.
Kevin Vickers holding his other weapon
Update 21: More reports that Vickers shot the suspect.
“The Sergeant-at-Arms is the person responsible for the safety and security of the Parliament buildings and occupants, and ensuring and controlling access to the House of Commons. It also includes a ceremonial function – carrying the ceremonial gold mace into the House of Commons before every sitting.
Canada’s current Sergeant-at-Arms is Kevin Vickers, a former RCMP officer, who has held the position since 2006.”
Update 22: The soldier has died, according to multiple reports.
Update 23: Reports of 3 victims in shooting. Two in stable condition.
Update 24: Dow Jones reporting, citing police, that information suggests there might have only been one suspect
