Ottawa Shootings

Thursday, 23 October 2014 08:57

Ottawa police say they believe there was only one shooter in Ottawa Wednesday morning.

OTTAWA -- The solider who was shot and killed at the National War Memorial in Ottawa Wednesday morning was only on a short-term posting at the cenotaph.

24 year-old Corporal Nathan Cirillo of Hamilton served with the city's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

According to his Facebook profile, Cirillo was an animal lover, outdoor enthusiast, fitness buff and father to a six year-old son. Reports say that his mother has travelled to Ottawa while his father and sisters have remained in Hamilton.

During his speech to the nation Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the gunman who attacked Parliament Hill was a terrorist who murdered a Canadian Forces reservist in cold blood. Harper says the killing of Cirillo and shootout inside Parliament was a terrorist act -- and an attack on Canadian values.

Harper says he is confident that the attack will strengthen Canada's resolve to track down would-be terrorists at home and help our allies rout out terrorists in Iraq.

The assailant has been identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau. It has been reported that he was born in Quebec in 1982 and that his mother was a high ranking federal employee. Further reports say he was known to police in Montreal and Vancouver with multiple drug and robbery arrests including a 2003 weapons charge.

Zehaf-Bibeau was reportedly shot dead by the sergeant-at-arms of the House of Commons, Kevin Vickers, in the Hall of Honour.

Harper says Canada will never be intimidated after what he calls a second "terrorist'' attack in three days, after a radical Islamist was shot and killed by police southeast of Montreal after he ran down and killed another Canadian soldier on Monday.

MPs will return to Parliament Thursday morning however Parliament Hill will remain closed to visitors.

Ottawa police have also released that they believe there was only one gunman involved in the shootings Wednesday.

Three people were injured, including one with a minor bullet wound.