Canada's parliament attacked, soldier fatally shot nearby

CANBERRA -- Australian authorities are considering tougher security measures at Parliament House after a gunman stormed the Canadian legislature overnight in what Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said had "all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.".

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bronwyn Bishop, moved to reassure MPs and staff on Thursday that "appropriate measures" were in place to prevent a similar attack taking place in Canberra, and the police presence around the building had already been increased that morning.

At the beginning of parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, Bishop said MPs and staff would notice an increased security presence in parliament on Thursday morning, and further changes could be made.

"You will notice some increase in the security arrangements this morning. You'll also note that we already have a significant armed presence guarding the building, which has recently been boosted with the addition of long-armed weapons," said Bishop.

The Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott convened a meeting of cabinet's national security committee after the dramatic developments in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, where a soldier was shot dead, and the gunman made it into the heart of the parliament before being killed himself.

Abbott issued a statement on Thursday morning saying the events were "further confirmation that the threat to free countries and free institutions is very real indeed."

Abbott assured Australians that security was upgraded at the parliament about six weeks ago in response to "credible intelligence of a possible threat to this parliament."

"I do want to assure the Australian people that this government will do everything we humanly can to keep our country and its people safe. All of our anti-terror activities are directed against crime and terrorism, not against religion and I do want to assure people and remind people that they should go about their normal lives because the fundamental objectives of the terrorists is to scare us from being ourselves," he added.

Security arrangements at Parliament House were stepped up last month after Abbott said there was increased "chatter amongst these terrorist networks of a potential attack."

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) were given control of internal and external security at the building, and officers with assault rifles were stationed near entry points.

On Thursday the AFP conducted extra patrols around the parliamentary triangle and the Canadian high commission in Canberra.