2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
| Shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa | |
|---|---|
 Parliament Hill's Centre Block, where one shooter was killed[1] | |
| Location | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Date | 22 October, 2014 (EDT) |
| Deaths | 2 (1 victim, 1 perpetrator)[1][2] |
| Injured | 2 |
| Perpetrator | Unknown, multiple[1][2] |
On 22 October, 2014, several shooting incidents occurred around Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The shootings began shortly before 10:00 EDT when a Canadian Army soldier on ceremonial guard duty outside the Canadian National War Memorial was fatally shot. An additional shooting incident occurred within the Hall of Honour at Centre Block on Parliament Hill.[3]
Background
The attack came a day after an incident in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec involving Martin Couture-Rouleau, an Islamic convert and sympathiser of the ISIL movement with extensive police encounters who deliberately did a hit and run on two Canadian Forces soldiers, one fatally, before being fatally shot in a chase. Canada raised its terror threat level from low to medium. It is not confirmed if the shootings are related to this incident and if the terror threat level will be raised even further.[2]
Shootings
The shootings began shortly before 10:00 EDT on 22 October, 2014, when according to witnesses, a gunman dressed in blue jeans and a black jacket with a head scarf arrived in a Toyota Corolla to the National War Memorial, carrying a double-barreled shotgun.[4] He shot a soldier on duty at the Memorial, then drove his vehicle to Parliament Hill, where he exited and proceeded into the Canadian Parliament buildings where 20–30 shots were fired. The male suspect was shot dead, reportedly by Kevin Vickers, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Canadian House of Commons.[1][5]
Subsequent to these initial events, Ottawa's downtown core was put under lockdown, including Canada's Parliament, the University of Ottawa and the US embassy.[1][5] The Ottawa Police Service stated they, along with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), are investigating two shootings: one at the Canadian National War Memorial, and one at Parliament Hill.[5] Originally, police reported a third shooting that took place in the Rideau Centre at the same time. A few hours later, police corrected this mistake, saying that only two shootings took place.[6]
At a press conference at 14:00, Ottawa Police confirmed the death of the soldier, but did not release the victim's name while his family was being notified. The RCMP confirmed the death of the suspect, but could not confirm the name of the suspect or any other details, citing the ongoing investigation. The National Defence headquarters, the Parliament Buildings and other government facilities remained in lockdown while a search of the area takes place.[7]
Casualties
Ottawa hospitals reported receiving three shooting-related patients. The killed soldier was a member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from Hamilton, Ontario. He was on ceremonial guard duty at the Canadian National War Memorial which includes the tomb of the unknown soldier. He was taken to hospital but succumbed to his injuries according to Government Minister Jason Kenney, CTV News, and CBC News.[8]
A parliamentary guard was shot in the leg, and was treated at Ottawa Civic Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. A third person was also injured, in an unspecified location. This person was taken to Ottawa Civic Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.[3] A suspect was shot and killed by Kevin Vickers, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Canadian House of Commons inside the Hall of Honour in Centre Block at Parliament.[1]
Reactions
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f "Parliament Hill attacked, soldier shot at National War Memorial in Ottawa". CBC News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Shots fired inside Canada parliament". BBC News. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ a b Multiple. "Soldier fatally shot outside of Parliament, one gunman killed". The National Post. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ "Canada's parliament attacked near where prime minister was speaking, Harper safe". Reuters.
- ^ a b c "Attack on Ottawa: Police in pursuit of multiple shooters". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ "Soldier and assailant dead after chaotic Parliament Hill attack". Thestar.com. Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ Beeby, Dean (October 22, 2014). "Ottawa shooting: Soldier dies of injuries, gunman also shot dead". CBC.
- ^ "Canadian soldier shot in Ottawa a reservist from Hamilton". October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.