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Soldier confirmed dead after shooting at National War Memorial in Ottawa

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OTTAWA (NEWS1130) – Ottawa police say the Canadian Forces soldier injured in a shooting at the National War Memorial has died of his injuries.

He has been identified as 24-year-old Nathan Cirillo, a reservist from Hamilton, Ontario.

Witnesses described seeing Cirillo, who was serving as a ceremonial guard at the foot of the cenotaph, shot at point-blank range before the gunman ran off in the direction of Parliament Hill.

The shooting triggered a day-long siege and manhunt.

Police are confirming the shooter is dead. US media outlets have identified him as Canadian-born, 32-year-old Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.

Parliament Hill and the dowtown core were on lockdown almost all day. Ottawa map.

The incident comes just two days after two Canadian soldiers were run over — and one of them killed — in Quebec by a man with jihadist sympathies.

The Langevin Block, home of the Prime Minister’s Office across the street from Parliament Hill, had been evacuated and citizens moved back more than two blocks from the Parliamentary precinct.

Two sources told The Canadian Press that Kevin Vickers, the sergeant-at-arms for the House of Commons, shot an assailant.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was rushed away from the building to an undisclosed location, officials in his office said.

His office issued the following statement:

Earlier today there was an attack at the National War Memorial and on Parliament Hill

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were attacked.

The prime minister is safe and not on Parliament HIll and being briefed by security officials.

Police continue to do their important work and we are still gathering the facts.

The prime minister will make a statement later today.

Ottawa police confirmed they had a call at 9:52 a.m. with a report of shots fired.

At least one gunman reportedly ran towards Parliament Hill.

Cabinet minister Tony Clement tweeted that at least 30 shots were heard inside the building, where Conservative and Liberal MPs were holding their weekly caucus meetings.

The NDP caucus was evacuated along with the Liberal Senate caucus.

Karl Belanger, a senior aide to NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, says security told them to remain locked in the Opposition leader’s office.

A witness reported that a man drove up in a black vehicle, got out carrying a rifle and ran into the Centre Block — the seat of the House of Commons under the Peace Tower.

The vehicle, with no rear licence plate, parked directly in front of the Langevin Block.

Witnesses reported seeing a man dressed in black with a scarf wrapped around his face, carrying a double-barreled shotgun

Shots were fired in several different corridors inside the Centre Block, according to witnesses. Some people fled the building by scrambling down scaffolding erected for renovations.

Chuck Bronley of Ottawa said he was near the memorial when he heard four shots and saw a man running away carrying what he said was a rifle.

A tourist from the Netherlands was also nearby when he heard four shots, and saw an armed man with long, dark hair fleeing.

Police were yelling at bystanders, shouting that there was still a shooter on the loose.

“DND member is down,” one officer was overheard saying.

Bronley was fairly certain the victim was one of the ceremonial guards at the War Memorial.

Two people vigorously pumped the victim’s chest on the stairs of the War Memorial, until the victim was finally placed on a stretcher and ushered into an ambulance shortly after 10 a.m.

Video courtesy Globe and Mail

MPs credit sergeant-at-arms for saving lives in Parliament Hill shootings

The man who is reported to have shot an assailant on Parliament Hill today is a former police officer with a background in providing security services for dignitaries, including members of the Royal Family.

Kevin Vickers became the sergeant-at-arms in the House of Commons eight years ago after a varied career in security.

He spent 29 years with the RCMP and rose to the rank of chief superintendent, often serving as the face of the national police force in New Brunswick.

The 58-year-old was appointed director of security operations for the House of Commons in June 2005.

He had previously worked as aide-de-camp for New Brunswick’s lieutenant-governor.

The sergeant-at-arms is responsible for safeguarding the authority of the House of Commons, as well as the safety and security of the Parliament buildings.

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