Cops: Ottawa Shooter Recorded Video Before Parliament Attack
Law enforcement says attack likely ideologically and politically motivated.
— -- The man who opened fire in Canada’s Parliament after killing a soldier last week recorded a video of prior to the brazen, daytime attack, part of what authorities said was “persuasive evidence” the assault was ideologically and politically motivated.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) did not further describe the video except to say that the police force “is conducting a detailed analysis… for evidence and intelligence.” The RCMP said it cannot release the video at this time.
Last week, 32-year-old Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, opened fire at Canada’s National War Memorial outside the Canadian Parliament, killing a uniformed soldier, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo. Zehaf-Bibeau then hijacked a car, drove the short distance to Parliament where he ran inside and opened fire again. He was gunned down by 58-year-old Sgt. at Arms Kevin Vickers before anyone else could be killed.
Before the shooting, Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian national with prior drug-related convictions, had attempted to get a passport to travel to the Middle East, but was delayed. RCMP Commission Bob Paulson said he believed the passport issue “figured prominently in his motives.” He appears to have acted alone, police said.
Police said they learned from Zehaf-Bibeau’s mother that he wanted to go to Syria, the Middle Eastern nation currently in the midst of a bloody civil war in which Canada is supporting U.S.-led operations against the terror group ISIS. Zehaf-Bibeau’s mother later reportedly wrote to a Canadian news publisher to say she told the police he wanted to go to Saudi Arabia, not Syria.
The RCMP’s recent post also said authorities are still trying to find out where Zehaf-Bibeau got the gun he used in the attack, previously identified as the small caliber Winchester .30/30. Police have determined a knife carried by Zehaf-Bibeau had come from his aunt’s house, where he had lived for three years.
The RCMP said Zehaf-Bibeau had “access to a considerable amount of funds,” much squirreled away from his work in Alberta oil fields.
“The nationally scoped investigation remains exceptionally active and fluid,” the RCMP said.