Codiac RCMP officers take cover behind their vehicle in Moncton
Codiac RCMP officers take cover behind their vehicle in Moncton, New Brunswick June 4, 2014. Three police officers were shot dead and two more were wounded, police said as they conducted a manhunt for a man carrying a rifle and wearing camouflage clothes. Police said they were searching for Justin Bourque, 24, of Moncton. REUTERS/Viktor Pivarov/Moncton

The Canadian police officers were shot dead in New Brunswick. Two others were injured while conducting a manhunt for a man who had been seen wearing military camouflage clothes and carrying a rifle.

According to Al Jazeera, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the death of the officers that occurred on Wednesday, June 4. Police spokesman Paul Greene said that the other two officers were suffering from "non-life threatening injuries." The RCMP earlier tweeted they had been looking for 24-year-old Justin Bourque. His image where he could be seen in the camouflage clothes and a couple of guns was also tweeted.

It was believed on Wednesday night that the suspect was in a Moncton subdivision. A number of roads in the city were blocked. The tiny city of Moncton went into lockdown on Thursday. Residents were asked to pay "strict attention" to what the RCMP warned them against. "The police and other emergency personnel are working under extremely difficult conditions and need our complete cooperation. Stay home, stay safe. If you cannot get home, seek out a friend or family and remain there until you are advised otherwise,"' Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc said in a statement. Bourque was spotted thrice early in the morning, but officers failed to catch him.

CBC News reported the recent updates of the RCMP manhunt. Area residents urged not to share details of police operations online. According to RCMP, the city was in a "very, very dangerous situation." A witness said that the gunman had waited to ambush the police. RCMP also informed that one of the officers who got killed had 3 children. Residents are asked to turn their outdoor lights on to help police search for the shooter.

Arresting the gunman was declared a "top priority." "Our top priority is to locate and arrest the suspect, as well as to resolve the situation as soon as possible, Corporal Chantal Farrah told reporters, "The safety of the residents as well as that of our police officers involved in this operation is extremely important to us."

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au