Gunman Holding up to 9 Hostages in Canada

Police Negotiating with Man Armed with Hunting Rifle Inside Workers' Compensation Board Building in Edmonton

(AP)  Police are negotiating with a gunman reported to be holding as many as nine hostages in the Workers' Compensation Board building in downtown Edmonton.

Edmonton police spokesman Jeff Wuite said authorities received a report Wednesday of a man armed with a hunting rifle inside the building, which is close to the legislature for the western Canadian province.

"Now that we have communication with the suspect, we feel good that we can move forward to resolving it," Wuite said. "We want to find out what this guy wants and what we can do to end this peacefully."

Police negotiators were prepared to take their time talking to the man, he added.

Wuite couldn't say how many hostages were involved.

But a worker who was evacuated from the fourth floor, four levels below where the standoff was taking place, said she was told there were nine people involved. The woman, who would only give the first name Nadia, said the evacuation was orderly.

Emergency police dispatchers received a call from the building at about 8:45 a.m. and quickly brought in tactical officers and negotiators.

Workers' Compensation Board spokeswoman Dayna Therien said they believe the gunman is a workers' compensation claimant.

WSB spokeswoman Jennifer Dagsvik said the eight-story office building has been evacuated, but that she couldn't confirm whether there were hostages.

Dagsvik said about 700 people work at the building, including case managers and claim adjudicators.

[bubbadubba]

Impossible, this only happens in the US.
LOL

[curse914]

:) did they mention he got the gun from an American?

[mecanik-2009]

I will have to admit we have a problem in the US with gun crime but its a symptom of another problem we have. We have a drug war going on in this country and enough illegal aliens to fill up a war ship coming in every day. Minorities committing crimes with guns make up the vast majority of the numbers and its usually drug or alcohol related. If you subtract the alcohol and drug related gun crimes you would end up with a number so small it would seem insignificant in comparison to the numbers flashed aroung the news today related to gun crime.

[mecanik-2009]

Whites compose 79% of the population. I would predict our numbers would be much larger. But alcohol and drugs were still a major part of that.

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01]

Gunman Holding up to 9 Hostages in Canada
===========================================

SHAZZY, PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPON AND COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!

[mecanik-2009]

So how is this even possible in a country with such strict gun control laws. I'm just beside myself how this could take place. Is it possible all the laws in the world won't stop crazy people. Oh Canada, your little ivory tower is crumbleing before your eyes.

[jackp32]

I thought Canada had strict gun control laws. Didn't stop this guy from loading up. In the U.S., our constitution says "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

[AJMarine12]

Erasmus will probably have something to say to you about this.

[AJMarine12]

I knew I would find you here sweet thing.

I didn't see your post at first, but I knew it wouldn't be long before you got here,..........it being about guns and Canada and all.

Just wanted to let you know I was looking for you.

Kiss Hug