Prime Minister Stephen Harper has extended condolences to the families of two soldiers killed this week on Canadian soil:
Nathan Cirillo, who was gunned down this morning at the National War Memorial in the shadow of Parliament Hill, and Partice Vincent, who was one of two soldiers deliberately run down in Quebec earlier this week.
In a brief two minute address to the nation following today’s dramatic events in Ottawa, Harper said it’s a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to terrorist attacks
Harper also pledged to “redouble efforts” to work with allies to fight terrorist organizations.
The leader of the NDP calls today’s shooting a cowardly act aimed at attacking our values. Tom Mulcair says it was an attack aimed to make us fearful of our neighbours, and less confident in ourselves but, one that failed and only made us stronger. Mulcair says 35-million Canadians at home and abroad are unified in grief but we not be shaken and tomorrow we will wake up and stand together, persevere and prevail.
Ottawa Police, meanwhile, say they’ve lifted the lock-down, but Parliament Hill remains off limits to the public. The RCMP has now taken control of the investigation.
Several MPs have been telling their stories. Parry Sound Muskoka’s Tony Clement – the President of Treasury Board – spoke with our sister station Moose FM in Parry Sound. He says the shooting started as the Conservatives were in a caucus meeting
Nanaimo Cowichan MP Jean Crowder was in another building near Parliament Hill.
Both Nanaimo Alberni’s James Lunney and West Vancouver Sunshine Coast’s John Weston spent most of the day in lock-down in the Centre Block. Both are safe, but declined the offer to speak with us.
The suspect in the shootings has been identified as 32-year-old Michael Zehaf-Bibeau. He was shot and killed by the Parliamentary Sergeant at Arms, Kevin Vickers.
