Canadian soldier Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was killed by a gunman while standing guard at the national war memorial in Ottawa. The gunman was later killed inside Parliament Hill’s centre block

OTTAWA—On a day when national security and terrorism were already at the top of the national political agenda, Parliament Hill itself today was besieged by a gunman who shot and killed a soldier at the National War Memorial before bursting into Centre Block, apparently bent on a rampage, before being shot and killed himself in a shootout with Hill security officials.

The dead honour guard soldier has been identified as 24-year old Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a reservist from Hamilton with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.

The dead gunman has been identified by a “high ranking federal official” to Canadian Press as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian citizen born in 1982.

Addressing the nation Wednesday night, Prime Minister Stephen Harper labeled the events the act of a terrorist, saying, “Fellow Canadians, in the days to come we will learn more about the terrorist and any accomplices he may have had.” He decried the murder of Cirillo “in cold blood” and praised first responders and security officials who dealt with today’s events.

“This week’s events are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune from the types of terrorist attacks that we’ve seen elsewhere in the world, ” Harper said, adding “We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated.”

Harper said the week’s developments will only lead Canada to “strengthen our resolve” to fight potential terrorist threats, warning, “They will have no safe haven.”

“Today has been a difficult day. Together we will ramain vigilant against those at home or abroad who wish to harm us.”

As Harper spoke, the capital was still shaken after a day in which Ottawa became ground zero in the current heightened international tension surrounding the U.S.-led airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, especially in countries such as Canada that have been declared targets by the Islamic jihadi group for their membership in the coalition. In that context, today’s events were the major international news story of the day as the world reacted to what was covered as a possible terrorist attack in Canada’s normally placid capital.

Harper spoke with both Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau at the end of the day Wednesday, in a show of trans-partisanship amid arguably the most serious national security situation Canada has faced since 9/11.

“The prime minister was thankful that Mr. Mulcair and Mr Trudeau are safe,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

“The prime minister reiterated the importance of the continued functioning of the government and our Parliament.”

Mulcair also spoke to the nation Wednesday night, calling the day’s attack, “A cowardly act designed to strike at the heart of our democracy,” adding that it had failed. “Canadians are unified in grief and stricken with disbelief,” he said. “But we will not waver.”

“These acts were driven by hatred but also designed to drive us to hate. They will not.”

In the mayhem that followed the gunman’s entry into the Parliamentary precinct today, Ottawa’s downtown core was paralyzed for hours, with all government buildings, schools, several embassies — including those for the U.S. and Israel — and multiple city blocks thrown into lockdown. The lockdown on most government buildings was lifted just after 8:30 pm, though access to Parliament Hill remained restricted.

The turmoil began at 9:52 a.m. Wednesday morning when police received multiple 9-1-1 calls from witnesses reporting an unidentified gunman had shot a soldier at the War Memorial.

One witness told iPolitics about seeing a man exit a vehicle parked on Wellington carrying an object wrapped in blankets, before heading to the War Memorial.

“I was stopped at a red light at the corner of Wellington St. and Elgin St. … In front of me is a little brown car parked beside the war memorial with no flashers on,” said the witness. “I thought it was odd because there were no flashers. A man exited the front seat and opened the back seat on the passenger side. He pulls out what looked like a pile of blankets and ran around the back of the car to the memorial. I changed lanes to avoid his car, and then saw him running back towards the car with what looked like a pipe …”

After fatally shooting Cirilllo, the suspect then fled towards Parliament Hill, eyewitnesses said.

On the Hill, MPs from all parties were meeting for their regular 10:00 a.m. weekly caucuses, this week already preoccupied with with questions of national security and terrorism following the attack on two Canadian Forces soldiers in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Monday, one of whom died. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was, according to witnesses, just addressing the Tory caucus as gunfire rang out.

Video posted to YouTube by The Globe and Mail’s Josh Wingrove

Shortly afterward, just before 10 o’clock, a gun battle between the shooter and Hill security erupted in the halls of Centre Block, sending left MPs and journalists running for cover. Some remained huddled and barricaded in secure rooms inside the building for hours. Between 20 to 50 shots were reported by MPs and reporters on the Hill. The suspect was apparently killed in that shootout, with House of Commons sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers being lauded as a hero for apparently taking him down.

Dramatic video of the gun battle (below) was posted by Globe and Mail reporter Josh Wingrove, and by noon had gone viral globally. MPs reported smelling gun powder and seeing a body lying outside the entrance to the Library of Parliament inside Centre Block.

Reporters in Parliament’s main media room, also known as the “Hot Room,” were evacuated through the roof, iPolitics reporter Elizabeth Thompson said.

No MP or senator was injured despite the fact that the gunplay happened in Parliament’s Hall of Honour, just feet from Conservative and NDP party caucus rooms.

Harper was immediately removed from the Hill to a safe location, a spokesman said. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair also made it to safety.

His spokesman said Harper was briefed by security officials at a location away from Parliament Hill.

As the seriousness of the crisis emerged, and with security officials not knowing whether the gunman was working alone or with accomplices, the Parliamentary precinct became a besieged crime scene.

Security services on Parliament Hill issued the following alert to MPs’ offices:

ALL BUILDINGS are currently in lockdown. Follow the instructions from Security Services.

THIS MEANS stay in your office, with the doors locked and away from the windows. If your door does not lock, find a way to barricade the door, if possible. *** Do not open the door under any circumstances. Security Services has the required keys.

When the Evacuation of Centre Block begins, evacuees will be directed to East Block and are to remain there until further notice from Security Services

As the lockdown dragged on, MPs took to twitter to update friends and family about the situation.

“Still patiently awaiting rescue here in Centre Block,” tweeted Treasury Board President Tony Clement. “I feared this day would come, and my prayers are with the fallen soldier. Hug your fam.”

“Mom, I’m okay. I’m in hiding,” tweeted Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

In a news conference this afternoon, RCMP and Ottawa Police officials referred to the events as an “ongoing operation” but gave no new information on possible accomplices.

During the news conference, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Gilles Michaud told reporters RCMP had no warning of the attack.

“If we had known that this was coming, we would have been able to prevent it,” he said, adding that it’s “important that Canadians remain vigilant” and report suspicious activity to police.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones affected by today’s incidents,” Michaud said.

“These are situations that we as police officers train for,” Michaud said. “We train our own members and we train with other police agencies. We conduct scenarios based training to cover off all types of threats including what we’ve seen in Ottawa today.”

The RCMP would not say whether the deceased shooter was one of the 90 Canadians identified as being radicalized by the security services and possible terror threats. The perpetrator in Monday’s attack in Saint-Jean, Martin Couture Rouleau, was on that list.

Police are asking any witnesses to Wednesday’s shootings to come forward. Eyewitnesses are urged to contact the Ottawa major crimes unit or the RCMP tip line.

Reacting to the news, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson called it, “a sad and tragic day for our city and our country,” pledging to not let “anger rule the day.”

The Ottawa Civic Hospital received four patients, including the soldier who died. The other three suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries and have now been released. The hospital was under heavy police guard Wednesday evening.

Military bases across the country were also locked down and soldiers in Quebec were told not to wear their uniforms in public spaces.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NOARD) would not confirm reports that it had heightened its alert status in response to the Ottawa shootings. “NORAD is taking appropriate and prudent steps to ensure we are adequately postured to respond quickly to any incidents involving aviation in Canada,” the command said in a statement.

At the time of the shooting, Parliament’s threat level was set at medium — where it has lingered for several years. Police did not say Wednesday whether that threat level had been raised.

The prime minister is expected to make a statement on the shootings later today.

With files from CP

This article was originally published on iPolitics and is reprinted here with permission as part of the partnership between iPolitics and the Canadian University Press