Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressed the nation this evening, saying this week’s events are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to terrorist attacks.
“We are also reminded that attacks on our security personnel and on our institutions of governance are, by their very nature, attacks on our country, on our values, on our society, on us Canadians as a free and democratic people who embrace human dignity for all.”
Speaking from an undisclosed location, the PM extended condolences to the families of both soldiers killed this week.
He says we will learn more in the days to come about the suspect in the attack on Parliament Hill, and whether there were more people involved.
The lock down on Parliament Hill is over and MPs, staff and tourists are now being allowed to leave, 10 and a half hours after a man shot a soldier standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before storming into the Parliament buildings.
The suspect has been identified as Canadian born 32-year-old Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.
Zehaf-Bibeau has a criminal record for drugs a decade ago in Montreal and a record for robbery and uttering threats in Vancouver from 2011.
He was shot and killed by the Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers.