Pictured: Soldier, 24, shot dead by Muslim convert Michael Zehaf-Bibeau who opened fire on Canadian Parliament in terrifying attack that left capital on lockdown
- Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, was shot dead after opening fire at Parliament Hill
- He was born in Quebec but reportedly recently converted to Islam and had his passport seized after being designated a ‘high-risk traveler’
- He shot reserve soldier Corporal Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial before running inside Parliament and exchanging gunfire with guards
- Heroic Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers shot him dead
- Police initially said there were multiple gunmen and at a press conference, they would not rule out other suspects
- Witness accounts of a suspect include descriptions of him as short with long hair, overweight, wearing a dark jacket and ‘Arabic scarf’
A Muslim convert shot dead a Canadian soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa today before exchanging dozens of shots with guards inside Parliament in a terrifying attack that left the nation’s capital on lockdown.
Michael Zehaf-Bibeau fatally shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a 24-year-old father, as he stood guard at the War Memorial on Wednesday morning.
Zehaf-Bibeau then ran inside the Parliament, where he opened fire before he was shot dead by the House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms.
Zehaf-Bibeau, who had a criminal history for drug trafficking in Montreal and robbery in Vancouver, was born in Quebec as Michael Joseph Hall but recently converted to Islam, CBS reported.
Sources told the Globe and Mail that he had been designated ‘high-risk traveler’ and government had seized his passport
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Left behind: Cirillo leaves behind one young son, pictured, according to his Instagram page
His attack comes just two days after another Canadian soldier was killed in Quebec by a man with jihadist sympathies.
Authorities initially said they believed ‘two or three’ gunmen were responsible for the attack in Ottawa on Wednesday, but at an afternoon press conference, Chief of Police Charles Bordeleau would not confirm whether or not they are still searching for other shooters.
‘We’re still in the process of clearing Parliament Hill,’ he said. ‘It is a slow and methodical process.’
The shooting spree began at 9.52am when witnesses reported seeing a gunman climb out of a car, grab a rifle, shoot the soldier in the abdomen and then run towards Parliament.
Corporal Cirillo was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
Cirillo, a fitness fanatic and animal lover with a young son, was a reservist serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Hamilton.
‘Nathan was a good man,’ friend Marie Michele told CBC News. ‘He would give anything to anyone.’
Ottawa police then received a call at 9.54am that shots had been heard inside the Parliament, while journalists cowering inside said they heard dozens of rounds and could smell gunpowder in the halls.
Race: Emergency personnel tend to the soldier after he was shot at the National Memorial just before 10am
Terror: Police are hunting the streets for more suspects and have asked the public to stay away from the area
Attacks: Ottawa police said there were shootings at the War Memorial and at the Parliament. They initially thought there was a shooting at the Rideau Centre mall, but have since said this was not the case
A shootout unfolded and Zehaf-Bibeau was killed by Sergeant-At-Arms Kevin Vickers, who worked for the RCMP for 29 years before joining the Parliament in 2006. (He is pictured by the Hill Times.)
‘I am safe & profoundly grateful to Sgt at Arms Kevin Vickers & our security forces for selfless act of keeping us safe,’ said Julian Fantino, Canada’s Minister of Veterans Affairs, on Twitter.
The Sergeant-at-Arms is responsible for safeguarding the authority of the House of Commons and providing safety and security of the Parliament buildings and the people inside.
As gunfire erupted in the hallways, journalists and politicians scrambled for safety, while members in the Conservative Party caucus room blocked the door with a stack of chairs.
A parliamentary guard was shot in the leg during the gunfight but is recovering in hospital, according to Globe and Mail reporter Josh Wingrove, who is inside the building.
Horror: Footage shows the moment multiple gunshots ran out around the marble halls – too many to count – and the police were seen to advance on the shooters apparent position
Terrifying: Sgt. At Arms Kevin Vickers reportedly killed the shooter this morning in the Canadian parliament
Gunfire: An image taken inside the halls of Parliament this morning shows armed police officers
Defense: People inside the Conservative Party caucus room blocked the door with a stack of chairs
Waiting: A reporter shared this image on Twitter showing a running car police say belongs to the suspect
A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Harper was safe after being evacuated from Parliament Hill. He is expected to make a statement about the attacks later today.
He had been scheduled to give Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, co-winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, her Canadian citizenship today.
The government said there is not yet any evidence that Zehaf-Bibeau has any ties to violent Islamic extremism but noted that it is still early in the investigation.
An Ottawa Citizen reporter inside the Parliament building, Jordan Press, wrote on Twitter that a suspect was ‘5’9-5’10, overweight & wearing a dark jacket’.
Witnesses also told the Citizen that they saw a man wearing an ‘Arabic scarf’ and carrying a long rifle, while others said the suspect looked South American.
Hunt: A small plane equipped with surveillance equipment flies over the scene of multiple shootings
Forced out: People evacuate downtown Ottawa as emergency responders try to secure the area
Emergency response: A scene of the shooting of a soldier near a war memorial in Ottawa
Hurt: The Parliament was placed under lockdown after the gunman opened fire on the soldier, pictured
Rush: Emergency responders attempt to secure a portion of downtown Ottawa near Parliament Hill
Scott Walsh, who was working on Parliament Hill, told CBC that he saw a man running with a shotgun, wearing a scarf and blue jeans.
He said that the man jumped over a fence around Parliament Hill and forced someone out of their car, then drove to the front doors of the Parliament building and fired at least twice.
Reporter Jordan Press added that the car – a Toyota Corolla – was parked in front of the building with its engine still running.
A video shot by a Globe and Mail reporter showed RCMP officers moving through Parliament’s main hall toward the Parliamentary library, as the hallway echoed with gunfire.
Other reporters inside the building described the panic in the hallways.
Guns raised: Emergency responders escort VIPs out of building on Sparks Street near the Post Office
In action: Emergency responders attempt to secure Wellington St near Parliament Hill on Wednesday
Armored: Police officers take cover near Parliament Hilll following a shooting incident in Ottawa October 22
Fears: A Royal Canadian Mounted Police intervention team responds to a shooting at Parliament building in Ottawa on Wednesday. Gunfire was heard inside the building shortly before 10am
On their way: A reporter tweeted that he could see a body on the floor inside the building
Trained: A heavily armed RCMP officer takes position at the gate of 24 Sussex Dr., the official residence of the Prime Minister, on Wednesday at the National War Memorial
Shut: A sign in a closed storefront as emergency responders attempt to secure a portion of Ottawa
‘Dozens of shots in parliament,’ Josh Wingrove, a reporter for the Globe and Mail, tweeted just before 10am. ‘I see a body on the ground outside the library of parliament.
He went on: ‘I was in the west wing of the building and shooter appears to have entered through main door on south side, heading north along hallway.
‘I heard dozens of gunshots and the smell of gunpowder is heavy in the hallways right now.’
He added: ‘One security guard said that it appears one officer may have been shot but we have no way to confirm that.’
Speaking to CNN, Wingrove said it appeared Zehaf-Bibeau entered the front entrance that has ‘many armed guards’ but no metal detector’.
‘If you flash your valid pass, they allow you to go in,’ he said. ‘This appears to be the entry point [of the gunman] based on witness accounts.’
Briefed: The head of RCMP Bob Paulson briefs Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the shootings
Patrol: Police set up a perimeter near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday
At least 10 Royal Canadian Mounted Police squad cars converged on Parliament Hill’s Centre Block as people were rushed out of the city’s Post Office
Recovered: A car thought to be the car of one of the suspects is pictured on Parliament Hilll following a shooting incident in Ottawa October 22, 2014
The RMP advised people in downtown Ottawa to stay away from windows and off roofs as they responded to the incident. The University of Ottawa was also placed on lockdown.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the nation’s thoughts and prayers are with Canada.
The doors to the Canadian Embassy in the U.S. are locked, while the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa has also been shuttered.
The caucuses for the Conservative and Liberal and NDP were holding their Wednesday meetings when the incident happened, the Citizen reported.
Keeping guard: A heavily armed Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer stands guard at 24 Sussex, the residence of Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper after a shooting at the Parliament building
Secure: A heavily armed RCMP officer enters 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of the Prime Minister
Address: Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard makes a statement in regarding the shooting at the Parliament in Ottawa from the legislature in Quebec City
Fears: Police tape surrounds the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday after the shooting