Wednesday 22 October 2014

Inconceivable

For Americans, the morning of September 11th 2001 was something that had previously been unthinkable. A terrorist attack on home soil.

Today Canada has experienced its own unthinkable event.  Just before 10 AM this morning several gunmen drove a car up to Parliament Hill in Ottawa.  After shooting a young soldier on duty at the National War Memorial, they proceeded to storm the Centre Block of Parliament.

Thanks to Parliament security, at least one gunman was killed within a short time and a second was reportedly killed about half an hour later.  As of the time of writing, Parliament and the downtown area of Ottawa is under lockdown while police and military forces search for other shooters.  Another possible shooting at the nearby Chateau Laurier hotel is being investigated.

The duty soldier has sadly died.  At least three other people are known to have been transported to hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot injuries.  Many government and municipal buildings across Canada have been closed.  The full scope of the incident probably won't be known until later today or tomorrow.

As I sit here still reeling in shock, I wonder just how safe are we any more?

2 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, I'm terribly sad to read about this incident.

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  2. I'm a Canadian and it's been a shocking day for sure. It's the kind of thing we often hear about in other nations, but not here. It will be a day I won't forget. I've been following the developments all day and it's so sad to hear all the details as they are released. Especially about the young soldier who was killed while on voluntary duty at the war memorial.

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