An armed gunman had shot two people, killing one, outside the venue in
Montreal, Canada, where Pauline Marois was making an election victory
speech as leader of Quebec's separatist party on Tuesday night.
But supporters and even TV news journalists inside the Metropolis
concert hall were yet to learn of the shootings and were baffled when Ms
Marois was rushed away mid-speech.
"Wow, um, I'm not quite sure what just happened there," the CBC presenter told viewers during a live broadcast.
But party officials soon explained the situation and evacuated the concert hall.
Outside, police arrested the 62-year-old suspected gunman, who wore a
blue bathrobe and balaclava, and seized a rifle and a pistol.
A man in his 40s was shot dead and another person critically wounded
close to where Ms Marois was giving a jubilant address calling for unity
among the people of Quebec.
The gunman reportedly entered the concert hall via the back door, which is about six metres from the stage, CBC reports.
He allegedly set fire to the rear door before police managed to detain him and extinguish the flames.
TV images showed officers holding down the suspected gunman and later dragging him away.
"I would be lying to you to confirm 100 per cent that there was no
danger to her or the people inside, but the shot was fired at the back
of the building," Commander Ian Lafreniere of the Montreal police told
reporters at the scene.
The suspected gunman's motive remains unknown.
As he was being led away by police he shouted at TV cameras in French: "The English are waking up!"
Ms Marois heads the separatist Parti Quebecois, which wants independence for the French-speaking province of Quebec.
She said in a statement that her thoughts are with the family and loved
ones of the man who died. She described the incident as a gratuitous act
of violence.