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White House in 'close contact' wth Canada following Ottawa attack

"We don't yet have all of the information about what motivated the shooting," U.S. President Barack Obama told reporters Wednesday after an armed assailant shot and killed a Canadian soldier in Ottawa and opened fire in Parliament.

By JC Finley
U.S. President Barack Obama reflects as he makes a comment of support regarding the shooting at the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, after meeting with Ebola Response Coordinator Ron Klain in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington DC on October 22, 2014. (UPI/Pat Benic)
U.S. President Barack Obama reflects as he makes a comment of support regarding the shooting at the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, after meeting with Ebola Response Coordinator Ron Klain in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington DC on October 22, 2014. (UPI/Pat Benic) | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The White House expressed its condolences following the fatal shooting of a Canadian Armed Forces soldier in Ottawa on Wednesday and noted the U.S. government is coordinating closely with its Canadian counterparts to offer assistance.

President Barack Obama telephoned Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and "offered any assistance Canada needed in responding to these attacks."

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The armed assailant, identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, shot and killed Cpl. Nathan Cirillo Wednesday at Ottawa's Canadian War Memorial. The shooter then entered Parliament Hill and opened fire. The House of Commons sergeant-at-arms and Royal Canadian Mounted Police returned fire, killing Zehaf-Bibeau

"We don't yet have all of the information about what motivated the shooting," Obama told reporters Wednesday afternoon. "We don't yet have all of the information about whether this is part of a broader network or plan, or whether this was an individual or series of individuals who decided to take these actions."

Wednesday's attack is the second such incident apparently targeting Canada's Armed Forces. Two Canadian soldiers were struck by a car near Montreal on Monday in what authorities regard as an act of terrorism. One of the soldiers died from his injuries.

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