Chaos in Canada: Gunfire erupts at Parliament

Chaos reigned over the Canadian capital of Ottawa on Wednesday when at least one gunman opened fire in the Parliament and the nearby National War Memorial, police said.
Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau said an attacker and a soldier were killed. He said the situation remained fluid and that "all measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of our residents."
Police were investigating multiple reports of shootings and pursuing suspects after at least one gunman shot the soldier at the war memorial and sprinted toward Canada's Parliament building, sending bystanders and members of Parliament scrambling for safety, police said. Witnesses said shots then rang out when a man entered the building, where members were holding meetings.
Ottawa Hospital said it received three patients after the shootings, and two were in stable condition. The condition of the third patient was not released.
Police gave no details on how the gunman died. On Twitter, Member of Parliament Craig Scott credited Parliament sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers with shooting the attacker just outside the MPs' caucus rooms.
In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the nation's thoughts and prayers are with Canada, particularly the family of the slain soldier. Details of the incident "are still sketchy," he said, and it was too early to determine if the attack was an act of terrorism.
President Obama spoke to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, offering U.S. assistance. Earnest confirmed that homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco is updating Obama on the shootings.
Harper is expected to make a statement on the tragedy later Wednesday.

Police respond to reported gunfire at the Parliament building in Ottawa. (Photo: Adrian Wyld, AP)

In Ottawa, police confirmed a man opened fire at the National War Memorial outside the government complex shortly before 10 a.m., hitting a soldier who was standing guard. Jason Kenney, an MP and Minister of Employment, Social Development & Multiculturalism, tweeted: "Condolences to family of the soldier killed, (and) prayers for the Parliamentary guard wounded," Kenney wrote. "Canada will not be terrorized or intimidated."
Ottawa police Constable Marc Soucy could not verify whether police were looking for multiple shooters, as some media outlets were reporting. He said only that the response was ongoing throughout Ottawa.
"Most of downtown Ottawa is in lockdown," Soucy said.

A video taken by a reporter with the Globe and Mail shows police officers responding to the incident in the Parliament building. Officers are seen walking slowly through the building toward its entrance with guns drawn when the sound of a gunshot rings out, followed the sound of additional shots.
Earlier Wednesday, Tony Clement, a member of parliament, sent out a tweet saying at least 30 shots were fired near a caucus meeting in the Parliament building, prompting the legislators to pile out of the room. "I'm safe with 3 colleagues but we're still at risk," he wrote.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police sent out a tweet about an hour after the first reports of gunfire, warning residents near the downtown core of Ottawa to stay off rooftops and away from windows. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa went into lockdown shortly after the shootings. The Canadian Embassy in Washington was also placed on lockdown as a precaution.

 From USATODAY.COM