Media reports on both sides of the border have identified a 22-year Canadian as the shooter killed in the Centre Block of Parliament Hill earlier today.
Those reports say Michael Zehaf-Bibeau from Quebec is the man who shot and killed a Reservist soldier on guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa then walked into the Parliament Building shooting at security guards before being shot and killed by Parliament’s Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers.
The soldier has been identified as 24-year old Corporal Nathan Frank Cirillo of Hamilton while a security guard at the Parliament Building was whisked to hospital suffering a gunshot wound – the injuries are not believed to be serious.
Police and security forces still have much of Parliament Hill under lockdown as they go room to room to make sure no other suspects may be in the buildings.
Members of the military are being advised not to go out in uniform unless on active duty and military bases across the country are on heightened security and closed to public access.
Prime Minister Harper and leaders of the Opposition parties were whisked to safe locations as the events unfolded today.
The Prime Minister is set to address the nation this evening.
