OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada's lawmakers and staff were warned on Friday of an ongoing cyber attack targeting the country's parliament, local media reported.

A government e-mail published by the daily Ottawa Citizen said "private and public sector employees, including House of Commons employees, are currently being targeted by several cyber attacks".

The security bulletin from the House of Commons chief information officer also said the attacks have so far resulted "in the theft of large volumes of personal data" and urged vigilance against hacking, warning against opening suspicious e-mail links or attachments.

Officials were not immediately available to comment.