Ottawa was rocked by violence Wednesday after a gunman fatally shot a soldier guarding the National War Memorial. The gunman then opened fire in the Parliament building, unleashing terror in the Canadian capital before he was shot and killed by a sergeant-at-arms.

The two shootings in Ottawa Wednesday left lawmakers barricaded inside offices and parts of the city on lockdown for hours as police searched for suspects. Canadian authorities identified the shooter as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32. Zehaf-Bibeau, a Quebec native, was thought to be a recent convert to Islam who had changed his name from Michael Joseph Hall.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community released a statement Wednesday night condemning the attack.

Canadian Muslims categorically and unequivocally condemn terror attacks on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at condemns and rejects all terror attacks and offers our condolences to the grieved families.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada categorically and unequivocally condemns this morning’s terror attacks on the Canadian Parliament and the National War Memorial as well as on the Canadian soldiers in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.

These are acts of heartless cowards and have no basis in any religion. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and we offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the soldier who gave his life in today’s attacks in Ottawa as well as the soldier who was killed earlier in the week in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.

As Canadians, we pray that God Almighty protect all Canadians from harm and that these terrorists are brought to justice. The Khalifa of Islam, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has stated that Ahmadi Muslims should become Ambassadors of peace, and continue to influence others with their loyalty to their nation, love for mankind, and service to humanity.

Mr. Lal Khan Malik, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Canada, said,

“I’m shocked by these heinous attacks on the lives of those who dedicate themselves to protect our great nation.”