U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to Prime Minister Stephen Harper by phone Wednesday, expressing his country鈥檚 solidarity with Canada and offering assistance in the wake of the attacks in Ottawa that left one soldier dead Wednesday.
Speaking with reporters inside the Oval Office, Obama described his phone conversation with Harper, which took place hours after two shooting attacks occurred on Parliament Hill in the nation鈥檚 capital.
Obama said he pledged to ensure national security efforts continue to be co-ordinated between the two countries in light of the attacks.
鈥淲e have to remain vigilant when it comes to dealing with these kinds of acts of senseless violence or terrorism and I pledged as always to make sure that our national security teams are coordinated very closely,鈥� Obama said. 鈥淣ot only is Canada one of our closest allies in the world, but they're our neighbours and our friends.鈥�
Obama said Harper was 鈥渧ery appreciative of the expressions of concern by the American people.鈥�
The president also said he was reminded of how 鈥渨armly鈥� he was received during previous visits to Ottawa.
鈥淪o obviously we鈥檙e all shaken by bit, but we鈥檙e going to do everything we can to ensure that we鈥檙e standing side by side with Canada at this time.鈥�
Obama said it is not yet known what motivated the shootings.
According to a statement from the White House, Obama condemned the 鈥渙utrageous attacks鈥� in his phone conversation with Harper. The president was referring to both Wednesday鈥檚 shootings on Parliament Hill and the attack on two soldiers in Quebec on Oct. 20.
As a massive police presence remained on the streets of the nation鈥檚 capital on Wednesday afternoon, a source confirmed to 麻豆影视 that the 鈥淔BI is assisting the case,鈥� but no other details were provided.
A U.S. official said the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. law enforcement are 鈥渕onitoring the evolving situation鈥� in Ottawa.
FBI spokesperson Paul Bresson said that although there is no indication of a threat to the United States in light of Wednesday鈥檚 attacks, the agency is taking certain precautions.
鈥淔BI has reminded our field offices and government partners to remain vigilant in light of recent calls for attacks against government personnel by terrorist groups and like-minded individuals,鈥� Bresson said.
