Ottawa Shooting: Man Arrested as Canadian PM Stephen Harper Lays Wreath for Murdered Soldier Nathan Cirillo

Man arrested at National War Memorial in Ottawa Screengrab

Police arrested a man at gunpoint at the National War Memorial in Ottawa just as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper laid a wreath where soldier Nathan Cirillo was killed on 22 October by a gunman who later rampaged through the parliament building.

The man reportedly crossed the police tapes during Harper's wreath-laying ceremony before being forced to the ground and arrested by authorities, who also drew their guns.

"He crossed the tape. We told him not to. He didn't listen," said a police officer at the scene, who said the man was being held for "disturbing the crime scene".

The episode highlighted tensions after a Muslim convert named Michael Zehaf-Bibeau shot dead Nathan Cirillo and was chased by police inside the Canadian Parliament building, before being killed himself.

Earlier, Harper told fellow members of parliament (MPs) that the government will be vigilant but "will not run scared." He then outlined plans to give the Canadian security agency more surveillance and detention powers.

His speech followed an emotional standing ovation for Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, who eventually killed the gunman.