Sask. MP Rob Clarke describes 'chaos' in caucus room during Ottawa attack

Saskatchewan MP Rob Clarke says at first, as shots rang out in the Centre Block of Parliament Hill, it was chaos in the caucus room.

"My first instinct was, oh no, it's happening here," Clarke told Blue Sky host Garth Materie.

Clarke, was the RCMP Sergeant on duty in 2006, when two RCMP members were shot and killed in Spiritwood, Sask.

"You never forget things like that."

Clarke says thankfully, many people in the caucus room had law enforcement backgrounds.

They piled chairs and other items in front of the door.

People started grabbing flagpoles as spears.

Clarke says his law enforcement training kicked in and everything started moving slowly.

"All I was worried about was the safety of my own colleagues, and making sure they were safe. And try to remain as calm as can be."

All I was worried about was the safety of my own colleagues, and making sure they were safe. And try to remain as calm as can be.- MP Rob Clarke

After a tense 15 minutes, RCMP officers outside the room tried to get in to tell the MPs they were safe.

Suspicious, they at first wouldn't let officers into the room and demanded identification.

They got confirmation via radio that the officers trying to get in were in fact Mounties.

Clarke has talked before about his struggles with PTSD, stemming from the incident in 2006.

"It's very traumatic. Any type of shooting, there are people who are going to experience traumatic effects."

"I just know from my own background, you do get shaken up."

Clarke says it was important that MPs were back in the House the very next day.

"It shows that Canadians and Canada cannot be intimidated."