President Obama on Wednesday expressed condolences for a mass shooting near Canada’s Parliament building that killed at least one soldier, saying the event showcased the importance of preparing for a similar event on U.S. soil.
“Obviously, we’re all shaken by it,” Obama told reporters from the Oval Office. “But we’re going to do everything we can to make sure we’re standing side by side with Canada through this difficult time.”
Obama said that that his administration did not yet know whether the shooting was a terrorist attack or how many individuals were involved in the episode.
But the president said lessons should be taken from the violence, which included shootings at Canada’s Parliament building and the nearby National War Memorial.
“When it comes to dealing with terrorist activity,” the president said, “the cabinet of the United States has to be entirely in sync.”
Ottawa police said that one gunman is dead and have also told reporters that multiple people were involved in the shooting. The city of Ottawa remains on lockdown, officials there said.
The president has frequently been forced to respond to mass shootings on U.S. soil, including at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school and an Aurora, Colo., movie theater. However, mass shootings are incredibly rare in Canada.
