A Muslim convert shot dead a Canadian soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday before exchanging dozens of shots with guards inside Parliament in a terrifying attack that left the nation's capital on lockdown.

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau fatally shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a 24-year-old father, as he stood guard at the War Memorial on Wednesday morning.

Zehaf-Bibeau then ran inside the Parliament, where he opened fire before he was shot dead by the House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms.

Zehaf-Bibeau, who had a criminal history for drug trafficking in Montreal and robbery in Vancouver, was born in Quebec as Michael Joseph Hall but recently converted to Islam, CBS reported.

Sources told the Globe and Mail that he had been designated 'high-risk traveler' and government had seized his passport

Scroll down for videos

Killed: Corporal Nathan Cirillo, was shot dead by a gunman as he stood guard at the National War Memorial outside the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa on Wednesday morning. He leaves behind a young son

Left behind: Cirillo leaves behind one young son, pictured, according to his Instagram page

Gunned down: Cirillo is raced to an ambulance after he was fatally shot in the abdomen by a gunman as he stood guard at the National War Memorial outside the Canadian Parliament

His attack comes just two days after another Canadian soldier was killed in Quebec by a man with jihadist sympathies.

Authorities initially said they believed 'two or three' gunmen were responsible for the attack in Ottawa on Wednesday, but at an afternoon press conference, Chief of Police Charles Bordeleau would not confirm whether or not they are still searching for other shooters.

'We're still in the process of clearing Parliament Hill,' he said. 'It is a slow and methodical process.'

The shooting spree began at 9.52am when witnesses reported seeing a gunman climb out of a car, grab a rifle, shoot the soldier in the abdomen and then run towards Parliament.

Corporal Cirillo was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.

Cirillo, a fitness fanatic and animal lover with a young son, was a reservist serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Hamilton.

'Nathan was a good man,' friend Marie Michele told CBC News. 'He would give anything to anyone.'

Ottawa police then received a call at 9.54am that shots had been heard inside the Parliament, while journalists cowering inside said they heard dozens of rounds and could smell gunpowder in the halls.

Race: Emergency personnel tend to the soldier after he was shot at the National Memorial just before 10am

Terror: Police are hunting the streets for more suspects and have asked the public to stay away from the area

Attacks: Ottawa police said there were shootings at the War Memorial and at the Parliament. They initially thought there was a shooting at the Rideau Centre mall, but have since said this was not the case

Gunned down: He had been in Ottawa because members of the Argylls were standing guard this week

Loss: 24-year-old Carillo served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Hamilton, Ontario

A shootout unfolded and Zehaf-Bibeau was killed by Sergeant-At-Arms Kevin Vickers, who worked for the RCMP for 29 years before joining the Parliament in 2006. (He is pictured by the Hill Times.)

'I am safe & profoundly grateful to Sgt at Arms Kevin Vickers & our security forces for selfless act of keeping us safe,' said Julian Fantino, Canada's Minister of Veterans Affairs, on Twitter.

The Sergeant-at-Arms is responsible for safeguarding the authority of the House of Commons and providing safety and security of the Parliament buildings and the people inside.

As gunfire erupted in the hallways, journalists and politicians scrambled for safety, while members in the Conservative Party caucus room blocked the door with a stack of chairs.

A parliamentary guard was shot in the leg during the gunfight but is recovering in hospital, according to Globe and Mail reporter Josh Wingrove, who is inside the building.

Horror: Footage shows the moment multiple gunshots ran out around the marble halls - too many to count - and the police were seen to advance on the shooter's apparent position

Defense: People inside the Conservative Party caucus room blocked the door with a stack of chairs

Heroic: Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, pictured, shot dead one of the gunmen inside the Parliament

A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Harper was safe after being evacuated from Parliament Hill.

I heard dozens of gunshots and the smell of gunpowder is heavy in the hallways Josh Wingrove, Globe and Mail reporter inside Parliament

He had been scheduled to give Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, co-winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, her Canadian citizenship on Wednesday.

The government said there is not yet any evidence that Zehaf-Bibeau has any ties to violent Islamic extremism but noted that it is still early in the investigation.

An Ottawa Citizen reporter inside the Parliament building, Jordan Press, wrote on Twitter that a suspect was '5'9-5'10, overweight & wearing a dark jacket'.

Witnesses also told the Citizen that they saw a man wearing an 'Arabic scarf' and carrying a long rifle, while others said the suspect looked South American.

Forced out: People evacuate downtown Ottawa as emergency responders try to secure the area

Emergency response: A scene of the shooting of a soldier near a war memorial in Ottawa

Scott Walsh, who was working on Parliament Hill, told CBC that he saw a man running with a shotgun, wearing a scarf and blue jeans.

He said that the man jumped over a fence around Parliament Hill and forced someone out of their car, then drove to the front doors of the Parliament building and fired at least twice.

Reporter Jordan Press added that the car - a Toyota Corolla - was parked in front of the building with its engine still running.

A video shot by a Globe and Mail reporter showed RCMP officers moving through Parliament's main hall toward the Parliamentary library, as the hallway echoed with gunfire.

Other reporters inside the building described the panic in the hallways.

In action: Emergency responders attempt to secure Wellington St near Parliament Hill on Wednesday

Fears: A Royal Canadian Mounted Police intervention team responds to a shooting at Parliament building in Ottawa on Wednesday. Gunfire was heard inside the building shortly before 10am

On their way: A reporter tweeted that he could see a body on the floor inside the building

Trained: A heavily armed RCMP officer takes position at the gate of 24 Sussex Dr., the official residence of the Prime Minister, on Wednesday at the National War Memorial

'Dozens of shots in parliament,' Josh Wingrove, a reporter for the Globe and Mail, tweeted just before 10am. 'I see a body on the ground outside the library of parliament.

He went on: 'I was in the west wing of the building and shooter appears to have entered through main door on south side, heading north along hallway.

'I heard dozens of gunshots and the smell of gunpowder is heavy in the hallways right now.'

He added: 'One security guard said that it appears one officer may have been shot but we have no way to confirm that.'

Speaking to CNN, Wingrove said it appeared Zehaf-Bibeau entered the front entrance that has 'many armed guards' but no metal detector'.

'If you flash your valid pass, they allow you to go in,' he said. 'This appears to be the entry point [of the gunman] based on witness accounts.'





Briefed: The head of RCMP Bob Paulson briefs Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the shootings

Patrol: Police set up a perimeter near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday

Police secure an area around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct. 22, 2014 after a soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial was shot by an unknown gunman

Recovered: A car thought to be the car of one of the suspects is pictured on Parliament Hilll following a shooting incident in Ottawa October 22, 2014

The RMP advised people in downtown Ottawa to stay away from windows and off roofs as they responded to the incident. The University of Ottawa was also placed on lockdown.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the nation's thoughts and prayers are with Canada.

The doors to the Canadian Embassy in the U.S. are locked, while the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa has also been shuttered.

The caucuses for the Conservative and Liberal and NDP were holding their Wednesday meetings when the incident happened, the Citizen reported.