Canadian attacker a recent convert to Islam

UPDATE (10:30 a.m. EDT, Oct. 23): In a tearful telephone interview, the mother of the man who killed a soldier and shot up the Canadian Parliament building yesterday in Ottawa said she grieved for the victims, not her son.

Police shot and killed Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, just outside the room where the country’s lawmakers were meeting for a day of caucusing. Officials say he was known as a petty criminal and had recently converted to Islam.

“Can you ever explain something like this?” said Susan Bibeau. “We are sorry.”

After insisting yesterday that the investigation was ongoing, declining to rule out another suspect in the attack, official said today they believe Zehaf-Bibeau acted alone. But during an address to the nation last night, Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the attack an act of terrorism.

“We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated,” Harper said.

The soldier who died in the attack has been identified as Cpl. Nathan Cirillo. Zehaf-Bibeau shot him at point blank range while he was guarding the National War Memorial. Witnesses described the attacker as carrying a rifle and dressed in all black, with a scarf across the lower part of his face.

Lawmakers in the Parliament building when Zehaf-Bibeau stormed in credited the sergeant-at-arms, Kevin Vickers, with shooting the attacker and ending what could have been a much more deadly rampage. When lawmakers gathered this morning for their regularly scheduled session, members gave Vickers, 58, a standing ovation. In his largely ceremonial position, Vickers carries a scepter and wears green robes, white gloves, and a tall imperial hat.

After a prayer and a moment of silence, lawmakers joined together to sing the national anthem before getting down to business.

UPDATE (5:46 p.m. EDT, Oct. 22): A Canadian official has identified the dead Ottawa gunman as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

UPDATE (2:30 p.m. EDT, Oct. 22): Canadian officials say the investigation into today’s shooting is fluid and ongoing, but they have not confirmed whether they are still looking for other attackers. Police asked Ottawa residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Canadian media are reporting that police have told officers not to appear in public in uniform unless they are on duty. During an early afternoon news conference, officials referenced threats to members of Western military and police forces from Islamic militants overseas. But they could not confirm whether they had received any specific threats before the morning’s attack.

Officials have not named the attacker, but they did say the attack took them by surprise.

UPDATE (2 p.m. EDT, Oct. 22): Canadian police confirmed that the soldier shot while guarding the War Memorial in Ottawa has died. Bystanders administered CPR at the scene and the soldier was taken to the hospital but could not be revived. He has not been named, pending notification of next of kin.

Police also confirmed the suspect who fired shots inside the Parliament building died after being shot by police.

OUR EARLIER REPORT: Canadian police shot and killed a gunman in an attack on the country’s Parliament buildings. The attack started when someone shot and wounded a uniformed soldier guarding the War Memorial in downtown Ottawa.

Bystanders heard shots ringing out around the country’s Parliament buildings, near the memorial, and close to a nearby shopping center, but it wasn’t immediately clear who fired them, whether anyone else was injured, or whether another shooter was involved. Witnesses told the Ottawa Citizen they heard between 30 and 50 gunshots inside the main Parliament building. So far only the shooter’s death has been reported, though others have been taken to the hospital.

Police put much of downtown Ottawa, including Parliament, on lockdown. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is safe and not on Parliament Hill, according to a statement from his office. He is expected to make a statement later today.

Today’s attack comes after a suspected Islamic militant plowed into two soldiers with his car Monday. One of the soldiers has since died. Police shot the driver, Martin Couture-Rouleau, who was arrested last year after he tried to leave the country. Investigators had already become concerned about Couture-Rouleau’s radicalization and feared he would try to join Islamist fighters in the Middle East. ISIS leaders have encouraged supporters in the West to target members of the military or their families.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.