A soldier was killed Wednesday morning after two gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the seat of the Canadian government, reports say.
Two soldiers were standing guard at the National War Memorial near Ottowa's Parliament Hill when a gunman open fired, killing one of the soldiers, a witness told CNN.
The men then went into the Parliament building next door and began shooting as MPs were conducting their weekly meetings at around 10 a.m., suggesting the attack could have been planned, according to The New York Times.
Police officers rushed to the scene and a shootout ensured with the suspects, said to be either two or three. Security officials ushered the parliament members into secure rooms in the basement, according to The NY Times. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was also reportedly evacuated and is safe.
One person believed to be a gunman was killed during the shootout near the entrance to the library inside Parliament, CNN reported.
Parliament is on lockdown as of midday Wednesday and at least one shooter remains at large in downtown Ottowa, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Police are checking cars that are leaving the capital going to Quebec.
The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear. It comes after Canada raised its terror alert level just last Friday. On Monday, Canadian police killed a man they said was "radicalized" and had killed a Canadian soldier. Both shootings this week do not appear to be connected, CNN reported.
