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Breaking: Thomas Mulcair addresses the nation (update)

Update 8:48 p.m. Federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau is expected to address the country later this evening. Tune in to your preferred broadcast source to catch his speech. Update 8:28 p.m.

Update 8:48 p.m. Federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau is expected to address the country later this evening. Tune in to your preferred broadcast source to catch his speech. 

Update 8:28 p.m. Thomas Mulcair, leader of the official opposition, said he stands shoulder to shoulder with the Prime Minister.

He also lauded the efforts of the first responders who worked to save the lives of Cirillo and Vincent and said all Canadians are standing together with the families and friends of these

"At this moment Canadians are unified in grief and stricken with disbelief," Mulcair said. "Canada is shaken today but we shall not waiver. We woke up this morning in a country blessed by love, diversity and peace and tomorrow we will do the same."

He said these acts that were designed to drive us to hate but they will not succeed.

Update 8:17 p.m. Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a short statement to Canadians expressing condolences to the families and friends of Cpl Cirillo and those of Patrice Vincent, a Canadian soldier who was killed two days ago in Quebec when he and a fellow uniformed soldier were run down by a car.

Harper also condemned the attacks, calling them cold-blooded murders.

"This week's events are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to the type of attacks known to others around the world....

[These attacks are attacks on our way of life]. Canada will not be intimidated... It will only strengthen our resolve... they [terrorists] will have no place to hide."

Update at 8:08 p.m. CTV reports all government buildings have been locked down again. The Prime Minister is now beginning to speak.

Update at 7:32 p.m. The CBC is reporting Prime Minister Stephen Harper will update the nation on today's shootings in Ottawa at 7:45 p.m.

Update at 5:48 p.m. Canadian Press has identified the Canadian Forces Soldier killed at the National War Memorial earlier today.

Relatives and other sources are saying Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, of Hamilton, was gunned down as he and another soldier stood guard at the cenotaph.

He was on a short-term posting to the nations capital.

To read more on Cpl. Cirillo check our national news feed.

Update at 2:05 p.m.

Canadian Press reported that Ottawa police have confirmed the Canadian Forces soldier injured in a shooting at the National War Memorial has died of his injuries.

Witnesses described seeing the soldier, 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 that is still underway in the national capital, with reports of as many as three gunmen.

Update at 1:15 p.m.

The latest report from Canadian Press says a witness watched from a window as a black-clad figure shot an honour guard at the War Memorial this morning.

"The honour guard dropped to the ground and the shooter kind of raised his arms in triumph holding the rifle," the witness told CP.

Update at 12:28 p.m.

Sudbury MP Glenn Thibault tells NorthernLife.ca about a close brush with a gunman on Parliament Hill this morning:

"The guy walked right by my caucus door ... shots were non-stop," wrote Thibault, via Twitter. "I can tell you he somehow made it in... 30 or 40 shots fired... Right outside caucus door security came running in telling us to get down."

Read more from Thibault here.

BayToday.ca reports that CFB North Bay is locked down this morning and that NORAD has increased its alert posture following the shootings in Ottawa.

Earlier update:

Police are now saying they are investigating "several shooting incidents in downtown Ottawa," reports Canadian Press.

An area of downtown Ottawa has also been evacuated.

Keep up with the situation here

Update at 11:34 a.m.:

CTV News has confirmed that a shooter is dead on Parliament Hill.

Canadian Press is reporting that Parliament Hill remains under lockdown and reports say two to three shooters may have been involved in this morning's shootings.

Keep up with the situation here

Update at 10:38 a.m.:

A member of Bryan Hayes' staff in Ottawa tells SooToday that the Sault MP is in lockdown in Centre Block with other MPs who are gathered for their weekly caucus meeting.

Jody Taylor, Hayes' executive assistant, indicates that Hayes is "safe" at this time.

Earlier update (10:38 a.m.):

Canadian Press is now reporting that a witness says a black car drove up and a person ran into the Centre Block with a rifle.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was rushed to an undisclosed location, according to officials in his office, CP is reporting.

Further updates are being added in our National News section.

Earlier news from CP (10:15 a.m.):

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

The gunman reportedly ran towards Parliament Hill, which is currently under lockdown.

Emergency responders are still on the scene and paramedics are performing CPR on the soldier.

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.

Earlier Canadian Press report:

The Canadian Press is reporting a member of the Canadian Forces has been shot at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

There are also reports of shots fired inside Parliament Hill.

Updates are expected.

Watch our National News section for more on this story.

(SOOTODAY FILE PHOTO: Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered remarks to party members and supporters at the Delta Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie on October 17, 2014. Donna Hopper/SooToday)


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