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Response to Ottawa Attack Resembled an Action Film In Video, Ottawa Gunman Spoke of Political Motives
(about 2 hours later)
OTTAWA — For the first time since a gunman killed a ceremonial military honor guard and then stormed Parliament, hockey returned to Canada’s capital and the Parliamentary grounds reopened to the public, as the man who many, if not most, Canadians view as the hero of the crisis dealt with his newfound celebrity.OTTAWA — For the first time since a gunman killed a ceremonial military honor guard and then stormed Parliament, hockey returned to Canada’s capital and the Parliamentary grounds reopened to the public, as the man who many, if not most, Canadians view as the hero of the crisis dealt with his newfound celebrity.
As routine resumed in Ottawa, Commissioner Robert Paulson of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement Sunday evening that Michael Zehaf-Bibeau had made a video shortly before his armed assault, in which he killed a guard at the National War Memorial. While the police did not release the video and Mr. Paulson did not describe its contents, he said it was “persuasive evidence that Michael Zehaf-Bibeau’s attack was driven by ideological and political motives.” As routine resumed in Ottawa, Commissioner Bob Paulson of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement Sunday evening that Michael Zehaf-Bibeau had made a video shortly before his armed assault, in which he killed a guard at the National War Memorial. While the police did not release the video and Mr. Paulson did not describe its contents, he said it was “persuasive evidence that Michael Zehaf-Bibeau’s attack was driven by ideological and political motives.”
The statement also answered questions about how an unemployed man who lived in homeless shelters had been able to travel across Canada and buy a secondhand car to use to carry out the attack. Mr. Paulson said that Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau had worked in Alberta’s oil field and was living off savings from that period. “He had access to a considerable amount of funds,” Mr. Paulson said, adding that the gunman had also taken a knife from his aunt’s property in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, which he visited, unannounced, the night before the attack. The statement also answered questions about how an unemployed man who lived in homeless shelters had been able to travel across Canada and buy a secondhand car to use to carry out the attack. Mr. Paulson said that Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau had worked in Alberta’s booming oil fields and was living off savings from that period. “He had access to a considerable amount of funds,” Mr. Paulson said, adding that the gunman had also taken a knife from his aunt’s property in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, which he visited, unannounced, the night before the attack.
The weekend also brought further details about Kevin Vickers, the sergeant-at-arms in the House of Commons, which suggested that his role in bringing the attack on Wednesday to an end resembled elements from an action film. More also emerged about how members of Parliament, who were meeting in rooms immediately outside of a gunfight, prepared for battle.The weekend also brought further details about Kevin Vickers, the sergeant-at-arms in the House of Commons, which suggested that his role in bringing the attack on Wednesday to an end resembled elements from an action film. More also emerged about how members of Parliament, who were meeting in rooms immediately outside of a gunfight, prepared for battle.
Mr. Vickers has gone from being known mainly for parading a ceremonial mace through the halls of Parliament, while wearing robes and a sword, to being the man who ran toward gunfire and ended the storming of Parliament by Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau, who was originally from suburban Montreal and had converted to Islam. Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau also had dealt with significant drug abuse and mental health problems.Mr. Vickers has gone from being known mainly for parading a ceremonial mace through the halls of Parliament, while wearing robes and a sword, to being the man who ran toward gunfire and ended the storming of Parliament by Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau, who was originally from suburban Montreal and had converted to Islam. Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau also had dealt with significant drug abuse and mental health problems.
The most dramatic tales emerged on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s weekly political radio program, “The House.” A widely circulated video made by a reporter for The Globe and Mail of Toronto showed guards and police officers charging up the Hall of Honor in pursuit of Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau. The final moments when Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau is killed near the entrance to the Library of Parliament are indistinct on the recording both because of distance and the reporter’s efforts to shield himself.The most dramatic tales emerged on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s weekly political radio program, “The House.” A widely circulated video made by a reporter for The Globe and Mail of Toronto showed guards and police officers charging up the Hall of Honor in pursuit of Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau. The final moments when Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau is killed near the entrance to the Library of Parliament are indistinct on the recording both because of distance and the reporter’s efforts to shield himself.
Citing accounts from guards and other unnamed sources, the radio program said on Saturday that Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau had taken shelter in an alcove in a stone wall just outside the library’s entrance.Citing accounts from guards and other unnamed sources, the radio program said on Saturday that Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau had taken shelter in an alcove in a stone wall just outside the library’s entrance.
Mr. Vickers’s office was just around the corner. Hearing the gunfire, he picked up his automatic handgun and moved toward the pillar shielding Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau from guards and Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers. That put him about 2 feet away from the gunman.Mr. Vickers’s office was just around the corner. Hearing the gunfire, he picked up his automatic handgun and moved toward the pillar shielding Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau from guards and Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers. That put him about 2 feet away from the gunman.
According to the radio program, Mr. Vickers could see the barrel of Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau’s Winchester hunting rifle sticking out.According to the radio program, Mr. Vickers could see the barrel of Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau’s Winchester hunting rifle sticking out.
At that point Mr. Vickers, 58, dived to the floor, spinning around to land on his back while repeatedly firing his gun until it was empty. The gunman collapsed to the ground and the other members of the security group moved in and fired their guns as well.At that point Mr. Vickers, 58, dived to the floor, spinning around to land on his back while repeatedly firing his gun until it was empty. The gunman collapsed to the ground and the other members of the security group moved in and fired their guns as well.
Several bullet holes are now visible in and around the alcove.Several bullet holes are now visible in and around the alcove.
The governing Conservatives, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and the opposition New Democratic Party were holding their weekly caucus meetings in large rooms on either side of the Hall of Honor during the shootout.The governing Conservatives, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and the opposition New Democratic Party were holding their weekly caucus meetings in large rooms on either side of the Hall of Honor during the shootout.
Confusion and then attempts at self-protection ruled in both rooms, according to accounts from several members of Parliament. The Conservatives rushed to pile up the heavy, green, leather-covered chairs against the doors, an effort apparently led by David Wilks and Rob Clarke, who were members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police before turning to politics. But once the rearrangement was complete, someone recalled that the doors opened outward making the barricade of marginal value. Confusion and then attempts at self-protection ruled in both rooms, according to accounts from several members of Parliament. The Conservatives rushed to pile up the heavy, green, leather-covered chairs against the doors, an effort apparently led by David Wilks and Rob Clarke, who were members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police before turning to politics. But once the rearrangement was complete, someone recalled that the doors opened outward, making the barricade of marginal value.
As Mr. Harper, whose police bodyguards were outside the room, was put into a tiny enclosure that was either a closet or a translator’s booth, his party members tore down about a dozen flagpoles mounted in the walls of the mural-lined room that was once used for reading newspapers and magazines. They had planned to use them as spears or clubs if the room had been invaded.As Mr. Harper, whose police bodyguards were outside the room, was put into a tiny enclosure that was either a closet or a translator’s booth, his party members tore down about a dozen flagpoles mounted in the walls of the mural-lined room that was once used for reading newspapers and magazines. They had planned to use them as spears or clubs if the room had been invaded.
But the only incursions came from the prime minister’s bodyguards, who whisked him away, and Mr. Vickers, who stopped by after reloading his gun. “I engaged the suspect, and the suspect is deceased,” he told the politicians using a microphone, according to the radio program.But the only incursions came from the prime minister’s bodyguards, who whisked him away, and Mr. Vickers, who stopped by after reloading his gun. “I engaged the suspect, and the suspect is deceased,” he told the politicians using a microphone, according to the radio program.
Across the hall, the New Democrats later found that a bullet had penetrated their meeting room’s outer door before lodging in its inner one.Across the hall, the New Democrats later found that a bullet had penetrated their meeting room’s outer door before lodging in its inner one.
Mr. Vickers went back to work the next morning. His only comment was given in a brief written statement in which he largely credits everyone else for stopping Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau.Mr. Vickers went back to work the next morning. His only comment was given in a brief written statement in which he largely credits everyone else for stopping Mr. Zehaf-Bibeau.
He was, however, praised by all the party leaders when Parliament resumed Thursday. And he seemed particularly approving of a suggestion from Elizabeth May, the Green Party leader.He was, however, praised by all the party leaders when Parliament resumed Thursday. And he seemed particularly approving of a suggestion from Elizabeth May, the Green Party leader.
“The finest thing that we could do for him right now would be to let him leave this place and go fly-fishing on the Miramichi,” she said, prompting a grin and a thumbs-up from Mr. Vickers.“The finest thing that we could do for him right now would be to let him leave this place and go fly-fishing on the Miramichi,” she said, prompting a grin and a thumbs-up from Mr. Vickers.