Police hunt man in 'Rambo' camouflage after three officers shot dead in Canada

 
Armed and dangerous: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police tweeted an image of Justin Bourque, 24, wearing military camouflage and wielding two guns
Rashid Razaq5 June 2014

A manhunt was under way in Canada today for an “armed and dangerous” gunman dressed “like Rambo” after he shot dead three officers and wounded two others.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police named the suspect as Justin Bourque, 24, of Moncton, New Brunswick, and tweeted an image of him wearing military camouflage and wielding two guns.

Constable Damien Theriault said the search for Bourque was concentrated around two streets in Moncton. Officials told residents to stay inside their homes and lock their doors while drivers were told to stay away.

Police officers take cover behind one of their cars

The police officers were shot after responding to reports of an armed man on the streets last night.

Joan MacAlpine Stiles, who saw the man pass through her backyard, told CBC News: “He looked like Rambo.”

John Rambo was a character played by Sylvester Stallone in a series of four films about a former Vietnam veteran. In the original movie First Blood he goes on a rampage killing police officers.

Sean Gallacher, who lives near the area where police were concentrating their search, said he heard what he now believes were gunshots but initially thought his daughter had dropped some toys on the floor above him.

“I was downstairs and heard a few bangs,” said Mr Gallacher, 35.

Canadian public safety minister Steven Blaney tweeted that he was “shocked by the tragedy” and that his thoughts and prayers were with front-line RCMP officers.

Danny Leblanc, 42, said he saw the shooter in the distance wearing a camouflage outfit and standing in the middle of the street with his gun pointed at police cars.

The building worker said he believed it was an RCMP officer until he heard a burst of automatic gunfire coming from the man’s gun.

“That guy was standing on the road afterwards and he was looking towards us,” he said.

A shop worker stands by as police scour the area for the gunman

He said he quickly retreated into his home and remained there with his family. At one point a neighbour posted on social media that their kitchen window was shattered by gunfire.

Mr Leblanc, who was in contact with friends on Facebook, said few people on his normally quiet street were sleeping as they awaited word at midnight on whether arrests had been made.

Word that police had been killed shocked the city, he said.

A Canadian police officer stands with a shotgun at a roadblock

“It’s devastating. I don’t know if he was on a hunt for them, or what,” he said.

Moncton mayor George LeBlanc urged all residents to pay strict attention to police warnings.

“The police and other emergency personnel are working under extremely difficult conditions and need our complete co-operation. Stay home, stay safe. If you cannot get home, seek out a friend or family and remain there until you are advised otherwise,” Mr LeBlanc said.

Mr Theriault said police responded to a call yesterday about an armed man in the north end of Moncton at 7.30pm local time (10pm GMT). Three of the responding officers were killed and two were wounded and in a stable condition.

“We are still actively looking for the shooter,” Mr Theriault said. “He is believed to still be in the Pinehurst subdivision area of Moncton. We are urging people in that area to stay inside and lock their doors and for people to say away from that area.”

Asked how he was dealing with his grief, Mr Theriault said he personally knew the officers, before breaking down and excusing himself because he could not complete his sentence.

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