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It's been confirmed there was only one shooter; saying "one shooter" suggests other shooters, but none have been confirmed.
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| image = Centre Block - Parliament Hill.jpg
| image = Centre Block - Parliament Hill.jpg
| alt = Parliament Hill's Centre Block
| alt = Parliament Hill's Centre Block
| caption = Parliament Hill's [[Centre Block]], where one shooter was killed<ref name="CBC live" />
| caption = Parliament Hill's [[Centre Block]], where the shooter was killed<ref name="CBC live" />
| location = {{nowrap|[[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], Canada}}
| location = {{nowrap|[[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], Canada}}
| coordinates =
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Revision as of 07:08, 23 October 2014

Shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa
Parliament Hill's Centre Block
Parliament Hill's Centre Block, where the shooter was killed[1]
LocationOttawa, Ontario, Canada
DateOctober 22, 2014
started 9:52 a.m. (EDT)
Attack type
terrorist shootings, carjacking
WeaponsDouble-barreled shotgun
Deaths2 (including the suspected perpetrator)[1][2]
InjuredAt least 3[3]

On October 22, 2014, multiple shooting incidents occurred around Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The shootings began shortly before 10:00 EDT when Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian Army reservist soldier on ceremonial guard duty at the Canadian National War Memorial, was fatally shot. Shortly after, a second shooting incident occurred across the street within the Hall of Honour at Centre Block on Parliament Hill.[5][6] Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the shootings a "terrorist attack."[7]

Shootings

National War Memorial

The shootings began shortly before 10:00 a.m. EDT on October 22, 2014, when according to witnesses, a gunman dressed in blue jeans and a black jacket with a head scarf arrived at the National War Memorial in a car, carrying a double-barreled shotgun.[8] He fired two shots, fatally wounding Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian Army reservist soldier of Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada Regiment, who was standing guard at the Memorial. Soldiers who were standing guard have guns but no access to ammunition.[9] The suspect then carjacked a vehicle and drove 600 metres (2,000 ft) to Parliament Hill.[10]

Parliament Buildings

According to a timeline assembled by longtime Ottawa-based CTV reporter Craig Oliver,[11] the gunman entered the Canadian Parliament buildings at the Centre Block under the Peace Tower, shooting a security guard in the leg. The gunman and security personnel exchanged between 20 and 30 gunshots; the gunman then ran down the Hall of Honor to an alcove by the entrance of the Library, which is beside the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Canadian House of Commons, Kevin Vickers. Vickers pulled a handgun from a lock-box and entered the hall. He then threw himself on the ground so as to become a smaller target and fired three shots into the gunman, including a head shot, and killed him.[1][12] Vickers' niece told the Calgary Sun, "This is the first time in his career that he's shot anyone."[13] Vickers had a distinguished career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) before joining the staff of the House of Commons in 2005.

Both Prime Minister Stephen Harper, of the governing Conservative Party, and the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, New Democratic Party Leader Thomas Mulcair, were holding caucus meetings in rooms on either side of the shooter's path. The Prime Minister and some MPs were escorted out of the building while others barricaded themselves behind doors.[14][15]

Response

The locations of both shootings

Subsequent to these initial events, Ottawa's downtown core was put under lockdown while a search began for a potential second shooter.[16] Buildings under lockdown included Canada's Parliament, the University of Ottawa and the United States Embassy.[1][12] The Ottawa Police Service stated that they, along with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, are investigating two shootings: one at the Canadian National War Memorial, and one at Parliament Hill.[12] Originally, police reported a third shooting that took place in the Rideau Centre at the same time. A few hours later, police corrected this mistake, saying that only two shootings took place.[16]

At a press conference at 14:00, Ottawa Police confirmed the death of the soldier, but did not release the victim's name pending notification of his family. The RCMP confirmed the death of the suspect, but could not confirm the name of the suspect or any other details, citing the ongoing investigation. The National Defence headquarters, the Parliament Buildings and other government facilities remained in lockdown while a search of the area took place.[17]

Casualties

Corporal Nathan Cirillo, 24, was the soldier who was killed at the start of the attack.[18] He was a member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from Hamilton, Ontario. He was on ceremonial guard duty at the Canadian National War Memorial, which includes the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He died in hospital that afternoon.[19]

Samearn Son, an unarmed House of Commons constable, was shot in the leg or foot when trying to wrestle the firearm from the gunman. He was treated and released by Ottawa Civic Hospital.[20]

Two other persons were also injured in unspecified locations. Both of them were treated and released by Ottawa Civic Hospital.[5][3]

Perpetrator

The gunman was identified as Michael Abdul Zehaf-Bibeau,[21] a 32-year-old Canadian with a criminal record who had recently converted to Islam and whose passport had been seized by the Canadian government due to designation as a 'high-risk traveller'.[22][23]

Zehaf-Bibeau was born in 1982 in Quebec, possibly with the original name of Michael Joseph Hall.[23] His father was Bulgasem Zehaf, a Quebec businessman who appears to have fought in the civil war in Libya in 2011. His father divorced his mother, Susan Bibeau, a Montreal resident and deputy chairperson of a division of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board, in 1999.[24]

Zehaf-Bibeau grew up in Eastern Canada, including Ottawa and Montreal, and had spent time in Libya before moving to Western Canada to become a miner and labourer.[24] He attended mosques in Burnaby and Vancouver.

In 2004, he pleaded guilty to drug possession for marijuana and PCP. In 2011, he was charged with robbery and "uttering threats" in British Columbia, but only convicted of the lesser charge of uttering threats.[25] He was also guilty of parole violations. An ISIL Twitter account put out an alleged photo of Zehaf-Bibeau just after his name was released.[26]

Aftermath

Blocks around Parliament Hill including a mall and a University remained closed for hours with buildings in lockdown, with police searching buildings room by room for potential additional shooters.[citation needed]

While security was heightened at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Toronto, all the party leaders agreed that question period should continue as normal.

Canadian Forces members in Ottawa, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada have been requested to stay out of uniform, unless on active duty.[27][28][29] Canadian Forces members in other parts of Canada have not been asked to not wear uniforms.[30][31]

The incident also forced the cancellation of a ceremony, scheduled for later the same day in Toronto, in which Malala Yousafzai was slated to receive honorary Canadian citizenship.[32]

Security was increased at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and near federal government offices.[33]

A National Hockey League (NHL) game scheduled to be played in Ottawa between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs was postponed.[34]

Reactions

Domestic
Political

As the attack occurred, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was briefing ministers. Immediate reactions also came from MPs Marc Garneau and John McKay. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said it was a "sad and tragic day for the city and country."[35] Other Canadian politicians and social media also reacted.[36] In a televised address later in the day, Harper called the shootings a "terrorist attack."[7]

Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne stated: "Our belief is that people who are using violence to undermine democracy want us to be silenced and we refuse to be silenced."[37][38] Public tours were cancelled for the day at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and security increased.[39] The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia was placed under restricted access, and most constituency offices on Vancouver Island were closed as a precaution.[40]

International
Supranational
  •  United Nations: Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon issued a statement that read he was "aware of the situation...[and] he hopes the situation will be brought quickly under control by Canadian law enforcement authorities. His thoughts are with the people and government of Canada at this difficult time."[41]
  • NORAD commander General Chuck Jacoby issued a statement that offered condolences: "My heart goes out to our Canadian comrades on this tragic day following the shootings in Ottawa, as well as the hit-and-run attack in Quebec earlier this week, both of which targeted Canadian Forces personnel. We offer our sincerest condolences to the people of Canada. We share their grief, but also their determination not to be intimidated by these cowardly acts."[33]
States

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Parliament Hill attacked, soldier shot at National War Memorial in Ottawa". CBC News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  2. ^ "Shots fired inside Canada parliament". BBC News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Ottawa shooting: Cpl. Nathan Cirillo dies of wounds, gunman also shot dead". CBC News, October 22, 2014.
  4. ^ Polly Mosendz (October 22, 2014). "'Parliament Hill Is Under Attack'". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Multiple. "Soldier fatally shot outside of Parliament, one gunman killed". National Post. Retrieved October 22, 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Canadian officials identify shooter in brazen attack on Parliament complex". Fox News. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Peter Terlato (October 22, 2014). "Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper: The Parliament Shooting Was a Terrorist Attack". Business Insider Australia.
  8. ^ "Canada's parliament attacked near where prime minister was speaking, Harper safe". Reuters. October 22, 2014.
  9. ^ Andrew Duffy More Andrew Duffy. "UPDATE: Day of chaos in the capital leaves soldier and terrorist dead". Ottawa Citizen.
  10. ^ https://postmediaottawacitizen2.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/1023shootingupdate-gr.jpg
  11. ^ "CTV News - News Video - Top National News Headlines - News Videos".
  12. ^ a b c "Attack on Ottawa: Police in pursuit of multiple shooters". The Globe and Mail. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  13. ^ http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/10/22/parliament-hill-shooting-sergeant-at-arms-kevin-vickers-the-family-hero-who-took-down-ottawa-gunman
  14. ^ "Local MP's talk about the shooting on Parliament Hill". CTV News Barrie. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  15. ^ "Ottawa shooting: N.L. MPs recount chaos moments after gunshots heard". CBC News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  16. ^ a b "Soldier and assailant dead after chaotic Parliament Hill attack". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 22, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ Beeby, Dean (October 22, 2014). "Ottawa shooting: Soldier dies of injuries, gunman also shot dead". CBC News.
  18. ^ "Ottawa shooting: Nathan Cirillo, reservist from Hamilton, killed in attack". CBC News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  19. ^ "Canadian soldier shot in Ottawa a reservist from Hamilton". CBC News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  20. ^ Duffy, Andrew (October 22, 2014). "11pm UPDATE: Day of chaos in the capital leaves soldier and terrorist dead". Ottawa Citizen.
  21. ^ "Canadian PM: Ottawa war memorial, Parliament shootings were terrorism". CBS News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  22. ^ "Attack on Ottawa: PM Harper cites terrorist motive". The Globe and Mail. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  23. ^ a b "Canada probes Michael Zehaf-Bibeau as possible suspect in Ottawa shooting: source". Reuters. Ottawa. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  24. ^ a b Freeze, Colin; Perraux, Les (October 22, 2014). "Suspected killer in Ottawa had a disturbing side". The Globe and Mail.
  25. ^ "Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, slain Ottawa shooter, had criminal record in Quebec, B.C." CBC News. October 22, 2014.
  26. ^ "Harper: "Canada will never be intimidated"". ctvnews.ca. October 22, 2014.
  27. ^ Husser, Amy (October 22, 2014). "CF members asked to stay out of uniform after Ottawa shootings". CTV News. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  28. ^ "Military members in Quebec urged not to wear uniforms when off duty". CBC News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  29. ^ "Security stepped up at Canadian military bases following shootings". The Globe and Mail. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  30. ^ "No order asking soldiers not to wear military uniforms at CFB Esquimalt". Global News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  31. ^ "Military bases hike security, soldiers told not to wear uniforms in public". Hamilton Spectator. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  32. ^ "PM Harper cancels Malala Yousafzai citizenship ceremony in light of Ottawa shooting". canada.com. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  33. ^ a b c "Ottawa shooting called 'tragic' by Obama, world leaders". Yahoo News Canada. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  34. ^ "Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators game postponed following shootings". NHL.com. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  35. ^ "BBC News - Ottawa shootings: Soldier killed and city on lockdown". BBC News. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  36. ^ "REACTION: How Canadian politicians are reacting to the tragedy in Ottawa". CP24. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  37. ^ "'We refuse to be silenced': Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne defiant in face of Ottawa shooting". National Post. Canadian Press. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  38. ^ Artuso, Antonella (October 22, 2014). "Kathleen Wynne: 'We refuse to be silenced'". Sun News Network. QMI Agency. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  39. ^ "Ottawa shootings: Alberta reaction". CBC News Edmonton. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  40. ^ "Legislature, CFB Esquimalt on alert; MP offices closed". Victoria Times-Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  41. ^ a b "Ottawa Shooting: David Cameron, Narendra Modi and White House Offer Support to Canada". International Business Times. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Cite error: The named reference "india" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  42. ^ a b "Ottawa shooting draws reaction from White House, world leaders". CBC News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  43. ^ "Ottawa shootings prompt increased security at Australian parliament". The Guardian, October 22, 2014.
  44. ^ "A history of serious security breaches that rocked Ottawa before deadly Parliament Hill shooting". National Post. Postmedia News. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
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