Authorities have found no evidence of a link between the gunman that attacked Canada’s capital and Islamist militants ground Islamic State.

Michael Zehad-Bibeau killed a soldier at Ottawa’s National War Memorial before entering parliament buildings and being killed in a gun battle with authorities, in what many feared was a terror attack linked to the situation in Syria and Iraq.

However, while he has described as “radicalised” by Canadian authorities, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have not found any links between Zehad-Bibeau and the Islamic State and contrary to earlier reports he was not on the list of “high risk” individuals previously known to Canadian authorities.

Intelligence sources believe that more than 100 Canadians have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State, joining other extremists from around the world including hundreds from the UK and Europe.

Meanwhile, further details of the attack have emerged, with one source telling the Globe and Mail that Prime Minister Stephen Harper was hidden in a cupboard in Centre Block for about 15 minutes during Wednesday’s attack, while MPs sharpened flagpoles and prepared to ambush the gunman.