US offers assistance to Canada in wake of Ottawa shootings

President Barack Obama offered US assistance to Canada on Wednesday during a phone call with Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, after shootings at the parliament building and elsewhere in Ottawa, the White House said.

President Barack Obama offered US assistance to Canada on Wednesday during a phone call with Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, after shootings at the parliament building and elsewhere in Ottawa, the White House said.

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Obama called Harper to express US solidarity with its northern neighbor. He "condemned these outrageous attacks, and reaffirmed the close friendship and alliance between our people," the White House said.

"The president offered any assistance Canada needed in responding to these attacks. Prime Minister Harper thanked the president and the two leaders discussed the assault and agreed to continue coordination between our governments moving forward," the White House said.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said US officials were not in a position to say whether the shootings were the result of a terrorist attack.