Chris Wattie/Reuters
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has declared Wednesday’s attack on the capital a “terrorist” act and vowed to redouble his country's fight against "terrorist organizations." In his televised address to Canada Wednesday night, Harper said, “Together we will remain vigilant against those at home or abroad who wish to harm us.” Michael Zehaf-Bibeau has been identified as the suspected gunman in the attack, which resulted in his death and the death of a Canadian soldier, identified as Cpl Nathan Cirillo. Three other people were treated and released from hospital. Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian born in 1982, is suspected to have shot Cirillo, who was standing guard at the National War Memorial. Zehaf-Bibeau then went inside the main Parliament building and opened fire (as captured on video below). House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers then shot Zehaf-Bibeau dead. Justice Minister Peter McKay praised Vickers, 58, for his “selfless act.” Harper indicated it is not yet clear whether the suspected gunman acted alone. President Obama condemned the incident as "outrageous," saying, "We're all shaken by it." He offered to help America's neighbor and close ally in its anti-terror efforts.
The attack comes two days after a radicalized Muslim struck two Canadian soldiers with his car in Quebec, killing one of them. Earlier on Wednesday, the Canadian government had raised its terror threat alert from low to medium. After the Ottawa attack, law enforcement asked citizens to come forward if they had witnessed the events and to remain vigilant about any suspicious behavior. They declared the situation “fluid” with the “investigation ongoing.” At 8:30 p.m. local time, Ottawa police lifted the city’s lockdown, but Parliament Hill remained off-limits to the public.