OTTAWA — Surrey MPs Jasbir Sandhu, Jinny Sims and their New Democrat colleagues were in a party caucus meeting in Ottawa when gunfire erupted this morning out in the hallway, just outside their door.
"We're all in disbelief that this happened in the House of Commons," a shaken Sandhu told the Now. He said he and fellow politicians were still in lockdown and are safe, but where, he said, "I can't say right now."
He said the shooting happened roughly 10 or 20 feet from the room where the NDP were discussing "party issues" behind closed doors.
He said a "very brave" security guard came in and told everyone to get down.
"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, you know something's wrong. It's a very scary situation. There are a lot of questions out there that need to be answered."
Sandhu and Sims phoned their families and want to thank everyone from Surrey who has been inquiring about the well-being of all on the Hill.
He said Prime Minister Stephen Harper called NDP party leader Thomas Mulcair to see if everybody in his caucus was safe.
Sandhu is the MP for Surrey North.
Jinny Sims, NDP MP for Newton-North Delta, expressed "sorrow at the loss of life and injury."
"The feelings in this room are very intense," Sims said. "It is hard for me to imagine this is happening in Canada and a huge thanks to all the men and women who are trying to keep us secure."
Sims said her thoughts are particularly with the family of the soldier who was killed at the National War Memortial.