Maurice Vellacott says about 30 kids and parents he was preparing to tour through Parliament Hill are safe after gun shots forced the area into lockdown.

“All our 30-some home-school parents and kids are all safe. Some are in lockdown in East Block building. Some got off the hill,” the Saskatoon-Wanuskewin MP told CTV hours after initial shots were reported in Ottawa Wednesday morning.

The group were inside Parliament Hill’s security area when they heard a loud bang.

“We heard the first shots,” Vellacott said. “At first I didn’t know what it was…. It was just a big bang.”

Parliament Hill security forced several members of the group, including Vellacott, out of the building. Some were placed in lockdown in the East Block building.

“We’re all safe and in good care right now,” said Vellacott.

One parent saw the shooter enter the building. She was taken into police custody in order to provide a description of the suspect, according to the Conservative MP.

The first reports of violence came just before 10 a.m. EST Wednesday, when gunfire erupted at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier who has since died.

Witnesses reported seeing a man with long hair and a rifle running towards Parliament Hill.

Video captured inside Parliament showed officers filing down the empty corridor of the Hall of Honour as at least a dozen shots could be heard ringing out in the background. A security guard was reported to be injured in the shooting.

Vellacott, who has been a federal politician since 1997, described the situation as surreal.

“It’s just got an otherworldly, surreal feeling to it,” he said.

Parliament Hill buildings were still in lockdown as of 12 p.m.

The offices of Saskatoon-and-area MPs Brad Trost, Kelly Block and Lynne Yelich confirmed each was safe.

The shooting comes two days after a man attacked two Canadian soldiers in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. One of those soldiers died from his injuries. The suspect was shot and killed by police.

On Tuesday, Canada raised the domestic terror threat level from low to medium.

--- with files from CTVNews.ca