Terror strikes with Parliament Hill gunman
To mark our 175th anniversary year, we feature a different front page each week from past Ottawa Citizens. Today: Oct. 22, 2014
Shortly before 10 a.m. on Oct. 22, 2014, gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau shot and killed Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a reservist standing guard over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial.
Only a few minutes later, Zehaf-Bibeau entered the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings, where, following a physical altercation during which unarmed security officer Samearn Son was injured, Zihaf-Bibeau was shot and killed by House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms and former RCMP officer Kevin Vickers.
Two days earlier, in Saint-Jeansur-Richelieu, Que., two Canadian soldiers were run over by ISIL supporter Martin Couture-Rouleau, an incident that raised Canada's terrorist threat level to medium. The incidents at the War Memorial and Centre Block, as well as rumours that day — later proved unfounded — of another shooting, at the Rideau Centre, further heightened tensions, while concerns that more than one gunman might be involved placed much of Ottawa's downtown core in an hours-long lockdown.
Roadblocks were set up at area bridges, helicopters circled overhead and snipers took up rooftop positions.
The emergency lockdown was lifted at about 8:30 p.m., by which time the Ottawa Senators had postponed their game that evening, while the National Arts Centre similarly cancelled two performances.
Meanwhile, security at government buildings across the country was increased, while Quebec's National Assembly was closed to the public.
Soldiers at some military bases were advised not to wear their uniforms in public.
The attacks, the Citizen wrote, “strongly suggest the Islamic State (ISIL) or other foreign jihadist influences have the ability to inspire, recruit or possibly even task Canadian sympathizers to launch domestic assaults, however unsophisticated.”
That concern was shared by others, including the prime minister. “This week's events,” Stephen Harper said,” are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to the types of terrorist attacks we have seen elsewhere around the world.
“Canada,” he added, “will never be intimidated. In fact, this will lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts.”
A few days after the shootings, Zihaf-Bibeau's mother, Susan Bibeau, sent a statement to Postmedia News, saying her son was unhappy and “at odds with the world,” suggesting that his acts that day were more the result of desperation than ideology. The RCMP indicated, however, that just prior to carrying out the attacks, Zehaf-Bibeau had made a video of himself that indicated his motives were ideological and political.