2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa
On October 22, 2014, a shooting occurred at Canada’s Parliament Hill in Ottawa, where Michael Zehaf-Bibeau attacked, resulting in the death of a ceremonial guard at the Canadian National War Memorial. The incident followed closely on the heels of another attack, where a different assailant killed two Canadian soldiers in Quebec. Zehaf-Bibeau's motivations were rooted in his radical views, which he expressed through various channels prior to the attack. After entering the Parliament building and engaging with security, he was ultimately shot dead by law enforcement.
In the aftermath, Canada experienced heightened security measures, including increased police presence and expanded surveillance capabilities. The attack sparked a national debate regarding the distinction between terrorism and mental health issues, with differing opinions on how to classify Zehaf-Bibeau's actions. The incident prompted discussions about civil rights and security, resulting in legislative changes and a reevaluation of counterterrorism policies. Overall, the 2014 shootings significantly impacted Canada's perception of security and the approach to dealing with radicalization and potential threats.
2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa
The shooting at Canada’s Parliament Hill on October 22, 2014 was carried out by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau (MZ-B). For him, the attack was the fulfillment of his personal jihad. He firmly was establishing himself as a mujahid who will reap heavenly rewards for struggling to protect and preserve the integrity and superiority of Islam from the degenerate and impious West and its acolytes of other religions competing with the words of Mohammed. It is a meme with tacit or substantial moral and financial support from other Islamists, though they may not be willing or capable of carrying out violent attacks. MZ-B fatally shot a ceremonial sentry soldier guarding the Canadian National War Memorial.
Brief Background
Extremists are inspired by what they witness as the valiant acts of other believers. Just two days prior to the Parliament Hill shooting, another Muslim terrorist rammed his car into two Canadian soldiers in Quebec, killing them. He was shot dead by police following a chase and attempting to stab a policewoman.
MZ-B entered the Parliament building after murdering the sentry, engaging security guards for members of Parliament. Six officers shot him to death. Much of Ottawa was locked down until security services determined there were no other threats from co-jihadists carrying out other attacks.
Neither the first terrorist nor MZ-B was under Canadian security watch as potential threats. The car-killer allegedly proclaimed anti-Canadian and anti-Semitic positions on the Internet and acted suspiciously at his mosque. MZ-B was awaiting a Canadian passport, planning to leave for the Middle East, made a video expressing disrespect for Canadian foreign policy, and explaining his own religious beliefs. He also allegedly expressed support for jihadists to co-workers, but all failed to notify security agencies.
Following both incidents and violent jihad attacks in America and Europe, Canadian government officials tagged these incidents as terror attacks. They sped up implementation of measures to prevent religious and political radicalization and expand security for government officials and sites. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service was granted wider surveillance powers, witnesses in courtrooms were given anonymity for their testimonies, and other antiterrorism strategies were made available by law to the service and police.
Since the shootings, Canada, which prides itself on the limits it places on the use of deadly force, authorizes officers to carry submachine guns on Parliament Hill, increasing visibility of tightened security to Canadian citizens, tourists, and potential threats.
MZ-B, wearing an Arab keffiyeh head scarf partially covering his face, was seen toting a Winchester rifle near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Parliament Hill that day. Parliament Hill is a huge land area on the banks of the Ottawa River, accommodating three million visitors annually, and home to the Canadian Parliament. No one stopped him.
The two attacks were not only determined to be a massive intelligence failure by security agencies, but the Parliament Hill shooting represented a total collapse of on-site security. The police used a photo of the shooter taken by a tourist to distribute over the Internet and then posted on Twitter.
Overview
October 22, 2014, was a day of chaos from the terrorist shooting in Ottawa, Canada. The prime minister said the shooting of a Canadian guard by a Muslim terrorist would not intimidate Canada and called it a "brutal and violent attack." It came on the heels of a car ramming murder of two other soldiers by another Muslim terrorist. Ottawa went on lockdown with armed forces searching everywhere including around the US Embassy and at legislative buildings all around Canada.
The 32-year-old Canadian-born and raised shooter was a convert to Islam. MZ-B applied for a passport, telling officials he wanted to travel to Libya for a second time. He was shot by security personnel and died at the scene; a large knife was found on his body, and police suspect MZ-B was planning to behead another victim.
The greatest impact of the Parliament Hill attack was to shake Canadians out of their sense of security from terror threats. Security risks in public places are assessed more regularly, and measures like restricting access are tighter. More police and security agents are armed, and armed with greater firepower. A commission recommended computer technicians be on permanent assignment inside the Parliament Hill buildings to aid in emergencies, there always be senior security personnel present, and should a lockdown last for any length of time, there must be food stores available to occupants. Proposals were put forth for tougher actions against illegal immigrants, and greater restrictions were placed on immigration. Stripping residents of Canadian citizenship for supporting terror groups and committing terror acts was also under consideration following the shooting.
A debate raged among the public and in academic circles about two issues. Was the MZ-B attack a terrorist shooting or the work of a severely disturbed individual suffering mental health and drug addiction problems? Second, where does the government draw the line on civil rights limitations when a rampage demands evidence gathering of a crime and intelligence gathering on terror attacks? The conservative prime minister at the time took a hard line on both matters, while only 36 percent of the public believed the MZ-B shooting was a terror attack. The recommendations for treating this as a mental health/drug addiction problem are far different from treating it as terrorism. This divide contributed to the election of a Liberal Party prime minister in 2015 who argued against the attack as a terrorism issue. The Parliament Hill shooting spurred legislators in other Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand that were not directly linked to fighting jihadists overseas to reconsider their security measures and new legislation.
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