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Canadian police release video of Ottawa parliament gunman during attack Canadian police release video of Ottawa gunman during attack
(about 17 hours later)
Canadian police disclosed new security camera footage on Thursday of the Ottawa parliament attack that shows the startling speed at which the events unfolded, as details emerged about the perpetrator’s frustration about a stalled passport application.Canadian police disclosed new security camera footage on Thursday of the Ottawa parliament attack that shows the startling speed at which the events unfolded, as details emerged about the perpetrator’s frustration about a stalled passport application.
The video, released by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) at a press conference on Thursday, details the short window between when the gunman identified as Michael Joseph Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, kills a reservist at the National War Memorial and makes his way into the Centre Block of Parliament Hill, where MPs including the prime minister were meeting.The video, released by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) at a press conference on Thursday, details the short window between when the gunman identified as Michael Joseph Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, kills a reservist at the National War Memorial and makes his way into the Centre Block of Parliament Hill, where MPs including the prime minister were meeting.
RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson said officials were still investigating Zehaf-Bibeau’s motive behind the attack. Zehaf-Bibeau, a petty criminal, had recently applied for a passport. His application raised concern among the processors, and they contacted the RCMP to run a background check.RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson said officials were still investigating Zehaf-Bibeau’s motive behind the attack. Zehaf-Bibeau, a petty criminal, had recently applied for a passport. His application raised concern among the processors, and they contacted the RCMP to run a background check.
At that time Paulson said the agency did not have any indication to believe he was a security threat. The RCMP said on Thursday that Zehaf-Bibeau was not among the roughly 90 “high risk” individuals being monitored as potential threats.At that time Paulson said the agency did not have any indication to believe he was a security threat. The RCMP said on Thursday that Zehaf-Bibeau was not among the roughly 90 “high risk” individuals being monitored as potential threats.
“I think the passport figured prominently in his motives. I’m not inside his head, but I think it was central to what was driving him,” Paulson said.“I think the passport figured prominently in his motives. I’m not inside his head, but I think it was central to what was driving him,” Paulson said.
Police said Zehaf-Bibeau, who was born near Montreal, had lived for some time in Vancouver, then Calgary, and recently came to Ottawa seeking a new passport. He arrived in the nation’s capital on on 2 October, and stayed for some days before at a shelter in downtown Ottawa as he awaited the RCMP to run background checks as part of an “enhanced investigation” into his passport application.Police said Zehaf-Bibeau, who was born near Montreal, had lived for some time in Vancouver, then Calgary, and recently came to Ottawa seeking a new passport. He arrived in the nation’s capital on on 2 October, and stayed for some days before at a shelter in downtown Ottawa as he awaited the RCMP to run background checks as part of an “enhanced investigation” into his passport application.
Paulson said the RCMP learned on Wednesday after speaking to his mother that Zehaf-Bibeau intended to travel to Syria.Paulson said the RCMP learned on Wednesday after speaking to his mother that Zehaf-Bibeau intended to travel to Syria.
Paulson also said on Thursday that Zehaf-Bibeau’s email address was “found in the hard drive” of a Canadian who was charged by the RCMP with a terror-related crime.Paulson also said on Thursday that Zehaf-Bibeau’s email address was “found in the hard drive” of a Canadian who was charged by the RCMP with a terror-related crime.
He said investigators were still working to understand the connection, if there was any, between to the two radicalised Canadian nationals. “When we say a connection it is sort of the weakest of connections,” Paulson said. “Clearly, given what’s happened, it’s strengthened.”He said investigators were still working to understand the connection, if there was any, between to the two radicalised Canadian nationals. “When we say a connection it is sort of the weakest of connections,” Paulson said. “Clearly, given what’s happened, it’s strengthened.”
It is unclear what provoked Zehaf-Bibeau to carry out the attack on Wednesday. But just before 10am, he approached the war memorial where reservist Nathan Cirillo, 24, was standing guard, police said. Zehaf-Bibeau opened fire on Cirillo, shooting from an angle where the soldier could not see him. The gunman fired two shots with a hunting rifle identified as a 30-30 Winchester lever-action gun, one aimed at a second guard which he missed. Witnesses told police they heard him yell something incomprehensible and sprinted north.It is unclear what provoked Zehaf-Bibeau to carry out the attack on Wednesday. But just before 10am, he approached the war memorial where reservist Nathan Cirillo, 24, was standing guard, police said. Zehaf-Bibeau opened fire on Cirillo, shooting from an angle where the soldier could not see him. The gunman fired two shots with a hunting rifle identified as a 30-30 Winchester lever-action gun, one aimed at a second guard which he missed. Witnesses told police they heard him yell something incomprehensible and sprinted north.
He got into a beige car, which he had bought a day before the attack, police said. Then, in less than a minute-and-a-half, he parked the car, ran to parliament, hijacked another car, drove to Centre Block and entered the building.Zehaf-Bibeau engaged in a gunfight with RCMP and House of Commons security officers, as he made his way into the building. Paulson said he rounded a corner and at some point the shooter and Kevin Vickers, the House of Commons sergeant-at-arms, exhcanged gunfire from behind pillars. Vickers is credited with killing Zehaf-Bibeau as the gunman moved from behind a pillar to get a better shot at him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He got into a beige car, which he had bought a day before the attack, police said. Then, in less than a minute-and-a-half, he parked the car, ran to parliament, hijacked another car, drove to Centre Block and entered the building.
Zehaf-Bibeau engaged in a gunfight with RCMP and House of Commons security officers, as he made his way into the building. Paulson said he rounded a corner and at some point the shooter and Kevin Vickers, the House of Commons sergeant-at-arms, exhcanged gunfire from behind pillars. Vickers is credited with killing Zehaf-Bibeau as the gunman moved from behind a pillar to get a better shot at him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Paulson said it was still unclear how many times Zehaf-Bibeau was hit, and they do not know the total number of shots fired. He said investigators are working to uncover the exact details about what happened inside the Centre Block.Paulson said it was still unclear how many times Zehaf-Bibeau was hit, and they do not know the total number of shots fired. He said investigators are working to uncover the exact details about what happened inside the Centre Block.
Before carrying out the attack, Zehaf-Bibeau stayed the Ottawa Mission, where residents described him to the Guardian on Thursday as steely and quiet.Before carrying out the attack, Zehaf-Bibeau stayed the Ottawa Mission, where residents described him to the Guardian on Thursday as steely and quiet.
Tenants, most of whom did not want to be interviewed, reported that he Zehaf-Bibeau stayed at the mission, which provides resources to help homeless people get back on their feet, for about two weeks.Tenants, most of whom did not want to be interviewed, reported that he Zehaf-Bibeau stayed at the mission, which provides resources to help homeless people get back on their feet, for about two weeks.
David Duchesne, who has been at the mission for about a week, said he hardly spoke to anyone, but he did not stand out from the other tenants. “He didn’t really divulge anything about his life,” Duchesne said. “He gave us no information except for the fact that he was pissed off at Canada because they held his passport and put him on a no-fly list.”David Duchesne, who has been at the mission for about a week, said he hardly spoke to anyone, but he did not stand out from the other tenants. “He didn’t really divulge anything about his life,” Duchesne said. “He gave us no information except for the fact that he was pissed off at Canada because they held his passport and put him on a no-fly list.”
Paulson said the passport application was not rejected. “He was waiting to get it and there was an investigation going on to determine to see whether he would get a passport.”Paulson said the passport application was not rejected. “He was waiting to get it and there was an investigation going on to determine to see whether he would get a passport.”
Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau said police seize Zehaf-Bibeau’s belongings from the shelter. Residents said they are given a locker to store their personal items.Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau said police seize Zehaf-Bibeau’s belongings from the shelter. Residents said they are given a locker to store their personal items.
In an email to the AP expressing horror and sadness at Wednesday’s events, Zehaf-Bibeau’s mother, Susan Bideau, said that her son seemed lost and “did not fit in”, and that she hadn’t seen him for more than five years until having lunch with him last week. “So I have very little insight to offer,” she said.In an email to the AP expressing horror and sadness at Wednesday’s events, Zehaf-Bibeau’s mother, Susan Bideau, said that her son seemed lost and “did not fit in”, and that she hadn’t seen him for more than five years until having lunch with him last week. “So I have very little insight to offer,” she said.
The Canadian government returned to business as usual on Thursday. The House of Commons opened as usual at 10am local time, with the flag flying over parliament’s Centre Block at half mast. The Queen, Canada’s head of state, had sent her condolences, saying she was “shocked and saddened” by the attack.The Canadian government returned to business as usual on Thursday. The House of Commons opened as usual at 10am local time, with the flag flying over parliament’s Centre Block at half mast. The Queen, Canada’s head of state, had sent her condolences, saying she was “shocked and saddened” by the attack.
Parliamentarians stood and clapped in a prolonged ovation to Kevin Vickers, the House of Commons sergeant-at-arms who shot Zehaf-Bibeau before he was able to claim any more victims.Parliamentarians stood and clapped in a prolonged ovation to Kevin Vickers, the House of Commons sergeant-at-arms who shot Zehaf-Bibeau before he was able to claim any more victims.
The Canadian government indicated that it intends to speed up proposals to toughen the country’s anti-terror laws in the wake of the attack, including a measure that would allow “preventative detention”.The Canadian government indicated that it intends to speed up proposals to toughen the country’s anti-terror laws in the wake of the attack, including a measure that would allow “preventative detention”.
The governing Conservatives have made no secret of their plan to install new anti-terror powers, giving the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) more powers to track, investigative and detain would-be homegrown terrorists. Harper promised the proposals would be brought forward.The governing Conservatives have made no secret of their plan to install new anti-terror powers, giving the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) more powers to track, investigative and detain would-be homegrown terrorists. Harper promised the proposals would be brought forward.
“They need to be much strengthened, and I assure you, Mr Speaker, that work which is already under way will be expedited,” Harper said.“They need to be much strengthened, and I assure you, Mr Speaker, that work which is already under way will be expedited,” Harper said.