Attack on Parliament: Police confirm several shootings; gunman loose - Canada

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**Blacksails**

I was in a briefing about just this sort of activity when this happened.

Certainly a little unnerving wearing the uniform right now.

Hopefully more aren't 'inspired' by these events.

Stay safe to everyone in Ottawa.

**Crablezworth**

Blacksails wrote:
I was in a briefing about just this sort of activity when this happened.

Certainly a little unnerving wearing the uniform right now.

Hopefully more aren't 'inspired' by these events.

Stay safe to everyone in Ottawa.

Apparently they cancelled the sens game tonight, like this guy can teleport or something.

**Experiment 626**

Crablezworth wrote:
Blacksails wrote:
I was in a briefing about just this sort of activity when this happened.

Certainly a little unnerving wearing the uniform right now.

Hopefully more aren't 'inspired' by these events.

Stay safe to everyone in Ottawa.

Apparently they cancelled the sens game tonight, like this guy can teleport or something.

More like simple standard security procedures in the wake of any kind of serious criminal/suspected terrorist incident... Don't provide any large, 'soft' targets. Keep the majority of people out the area so that police & investigators can both secure and go about their work without hassle.
Cancelling tonight's game is no different than cancelling it if there was giant arse weather storm hitting the region. It's purely a 'better extra safe than sorry' situation.

Besides, tonight really isn't the right time to be playing games. At the very least cancelling the game is a classy sign of respect for the sacrifices made today and to give the city & those involved some time to greave properly.

Anyways, RCMP are saying it's only 2 shooting incidents - the Rideau Center (the large mall), was a false alarm...
Essentially police & security have been getting calls/reports from the public who think they "may have seen something" and they're forced to go in and check it out.

Also, it looks right now like this isn't ISIS related. The shooter was apparently dressed all in black & had long black hair. After shooting the solider standing vigil at the Tomb of the Unkown, he ran into the Peace Tower entrance, and apparently yelled "hey" to on-site RCMP/Parliamentary Security. If he was an Islamist, he would have much more likely yelled out a religious statement, because martyrs want everyone to know who they are & why they're going their stupid gak.

Odds are it's a copycat or other politically motivated attack.

**Jihadin**

US stepped up secuirty in quite a few locations

**Ensis Ferrae**

MWHistorian wrote:
I'm not up on Canadian laws, but I'm sure the average joe isn't allowed to conceal carry like they are in the US.

Based on previous gun threads, I believe that it's extremely difficult to get a pistol in the first place in Canada. So while they may or may not have more firearms than the US, the number of firearms they DO have is going to be largely in the "long gun" department.

I am following this incident in the OP very closely though. From a cynical, detached point of view, I'm interested to know whether the incidents today are related to the recent ISIS' calls for action against "us", or if this is some extremist Quebecois Separatists, pissed off Leafs/Senators fans or what.

**Experiment 626**

Jihadin wrote:
US stepped up secuirty in quite a few locations

Yeah, all the embassies in Ottawa plus the American consulate in Toronto have had their security beefed up since this morning's shooting. Sussex Drive - which is where the PM's residence and the Saudi consulate are located among other buildings is said to be a mini-fortress right now.

**Jihadin**

I'm siding heavily on "Home Grown" terror cell

**Crablezworth**

Witness: "wearing black, long gun, caucasian, long black hair" that's the description of the shooter. Glad the mayor didn't call it a terror attack.

Experiment 626 wrote:
At the very least cancelling the game is a classy sign of respect for the sacrifices made today and to give the city & those involved some time to greave properly.

I dissagree

**Ensis Ferrae**

Crablezworth wrote:
Witness: "wearing black, long gun, caucasian, long black hair" that's the description of the shooter.

I know this isn't really the time for jokes, but: Trench Coat Mafia coming back??

And I've the feeling we're going to hear about the evils of Marylin Manson, and "heavy metal" music all over again

**Experiment 626**

Jihadin wrote:
I'm siding heavily on "Home Grown" terror cell

Almost certainly, but right now it's not even really obvious the motivation...

The Quebec incident 2 days ago, the suspect was clearly yelling religious statements as he came at police before being gunned down.
Today, all the suspect apparently yelled at authorities was "hey". Not exactly the well known MO of a religious extremist...

We also have extremists among home-grown eco-nutts, as well as some very militant Native groups. Or even just some whack job with a mental issue or like the dumb*** from Moncton who just hated authority and wanted to lash out & go out 'in a blaze of glory' as a famous criminal.

**Crablezworth**

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Crablezworth wrote:
Witness: "wearing black, long gun, caucasian, long black hair" that's the description of the shooter.

I know this isn't really the time for jokes, but: Trench Coat Mafia coming back??

And I've the feeling we're going to hear about the evils of Marylin Manson, and "heavy metal" music all over again

This is sounding more like the moncton thing.

**Ensis Ferrae**

Crablezworth wrote:
Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Crablezworth wrote:
Witness: "wearing black, long gun, caucasian, long black hair" that's the description of the shooter.

I know this isn't really the time for jokes, but: Trench Coat Mafia coming back??

And I've the feeling we're going to hear about the evils of Marylin Manson, and "heavy metal" music all over again

This is sounding more like the moncton thing.

Moncton? Sorry for my ignorance, but I've no idea what that is.... I was commenting on how, after Columbine, we had a whole spate of "news" people decrying the shooters as members of some made up gang, the "trench coat mafia" (or rather, it's what the two guys called themselves apparently), and we were blasted with how bad certain musicians were, certain video games... the usual.

**Crablezworth**

There was a shooting in moncton in whicha crazy white dude shot a and killed some rcmp officers. No ideology other than being sort of a conspiracy weirdo.

**easysauce**

Crablezworth wrote:
Witness: "wearing black, long gun, caucasian, long black hair" that's the description of the shooter. Glad the mayor didn't call it a terror attack.

Experiment 626 wrote:
At the very least cancelling the game is a classy sign of respect for the sacrifices made today and to give the city & those involved some time to greave properly.

I dissagree

is there a quote for that description?

police have the body, so far all they have confirmed is "male", and ive seen the witness say "Suddenly I saw a small guy with long black hair... with a long rifle, and he ran away after the shots, across streets in the direction of Parliament Hill," he said." on CBC

as for cancelling a sports game...

yes its a great idea, and common sense in the days when explosives are a thing, the metro and everything around those places is solid masses of people in tight spaces, on a normal day they have tons of cops there just for crowd control, on a day like this... you might not have the spare manpower as well.

**Crablezworth**

Ottawa is massively over reacting at this point. People's facebook status's are acting like it's the boston bombing. Already we're seeing really trite hashtags. The only thing to worry about is the commute out of the core, that's gonna suck. Today was a bad episode of 24.

**easysauce**

Crablezworth wrote:
Ottawa is massively over reacting at this point. People's facebook status's are acting like its the boston bombing.

face book is one big over reaction,

24/7

But compared to getting FB bombed by the latest gore-suziki-wereallgonnadie clap trap or harper=hitler or crazy-farm-gem game invites, its probably one of the less insignificant news stories people share.

police report

**Crablezworth**

First thought, that table is comically small.

**Orlanth**

easysauce wrote:
Crablezworth wrote:
Ottawa is massively over reacting at this point. People's facebook status's are acting like its the boston bombing.

face book is one big over reaction,

24/7

But compared to getting FB bombed by the latest gore-suziki-wereallgonnadie clap trap or harper=hitler or crazy-farm-gem game invites, its probably one of the less insignificant news stories people share.

police report

Why is this less a concern than the Boston bombings?

Agreed on facebook though, one of the long list of reasons why I dont bother with it.

**Crablezworth**

Orlanth wrote:

Why is this less a concern than the Boston bombings?

Agreed on facebook though, one of the long list of reasons why I dont bother with it.

I've got a facebook feed full of trite hashtags of "ottawastrong", I'm from ottawa, born here and raised and if there's one adjective I'd use to describe this city it certainly isn't strong. There was a tragic shooting and as such we will likely over react again which means no more yoga on the parliament lawn.

**Jihadin**

I just occaasionaly check my facebook for I do not live and die by the media. Reading other people posts over an incident making statements like they are a Subject Mater Expert is way........wait a minute..

**Mr Nobody**

Crablezworth wrote:
Orlanth wrote:

Why is this less a concern than the Boston bombings?

Agreed on facebook though, one of the long list of reasons why I dont bother with it.

I've got a facebook feed full of trite hashtags of "ottawastrong", I'm from ottawa, born here and raised and if there's one adjective I'd use to describe this city it certainly isn't strong. There was a tragic shooting and as such we will likely over react again which means no more yoga on the parliament lawn.

My facebook is just full of people making sure everyone is okay. Nothing about over reacting.

**easysauce**

Crablezworth wrote:
Orlanth wrote:

Why is this less a concern than the Boston bombings?

Agreed on facebook though, one of the long list of reasons why I dont bother with it.

I've got a facebook feed full of trite hashtags of "ottawastrong", I'm from ottawa, born here and raised and if there's one adjective I'd use to describe this city it certainly isn't strong. There was a tragic shooting and as such we will likely over react again which means no more yoga on the parliament lawn.

I think its because of the specific location/target?

People get shot in ottawa but its not always this big of a deal, again I think the target/motive/location is factoring in.

oh, and the media circus of course.

you being in ottawa, most of your FB friends would feel more compelled to talk about it as well, I havnt seen much on my feed.

I agree with you though, I hope there are no over reactions and hastily made laws made in the wake of this.

**Crablezworth**

Talking about it is fine, it;'s the slogan bombardment that is too much.

**Orlanth**

Queried:

Orlanth wrote:

Why is this less a concern than the Boston bombings?
Agreed on facebook though, one of the long list of reasons why I dont bother with it.

Replies:

Crablezworth wrote:

I've got a facebook feed full of trite hashtags of "ottawastrong", I'm from ottawa, born here and raised and if there's one adjective I'd use to describe this city it certainly isn't strong. There was a tragic shooting and as such we will likely over react again which means no more yoga on the parliament lawn.

I can agree with public solidarity that terrorism should not win, this needed because otherwise it can.

Mr Nobody wrote:

My facebook is just full of people making sure everyone is okay. Nothing about over reacting.

Very understandable, though the media was specific about casualties early; the Honour Guard at the War Memorial were fired upon. However a lot of people will be worried about family working nearby.
In Israel a custom has developed that as soon as anyone hears a bomb blast and was not in it, they txt their family to let them know there are alright, many people have a pre-recorded message for that.
It's a solid social system, society has to be stronger than the bombers.

**Frazzled**

In periods of heavy phone usage, the cell lines can get clogged. Do texts get through?

**Experiment 626**

Crablezworth wrote:
Orlanth wrote:

Why is this less a concern than the Boston bombings?

Agreed on facebook though, one of the long list of reasons why I dont bother with it.

I've got a facebook feed full of trite hashtags of "ottawastrong", I'm from ottawa, born here and raised and if there's one adjective I'd use to describe this city it certainly isn't strong. There was a tragic shooting and as such we will likely over react again which means no more yoga on the parliament lawn.

I doubt we'll end up going full-on "Fortress Parliament" mode like the US has gone, at least not long term.

For now and the near future, I'm sure getting tours through the Parliament buildings is going to be full of really sucky 100x extra layered security, and both the on-site RCMP & Parliamentary Security will be breathing down your neck just for trying to have a picnic on the hill...
But eventually things will relax and probably just go more added background techy and the tourist industry will just have to put up with bag scanning & a few dog sniffs.

They've been saying in reports that there's apparently something like 70! hi-def security cameras around the Hill... Here's to betting that'll get up'ed by at least another 70!

**Jihadin**

Fortress Mode? WTH? Heard about the US southern border?

**Andilus Greatsword**

Crablezworth wrote:
Talking about it is fine, it;'s the slogan bombardment that is too much.

Pretttttty much. I'm hoping that this is not ISIS related like some here have also said. Too many people are jumping the gun, saying that we're at war and need to bomb all the muslims.

**easysauce**

Andilus Greatsword wrote:
Crablezworth wrote:
Talking about it is fine, it;'s the slogan bombardment that is too much.

Too many people are jumping the gun, saying that we're at war and need to bomb all the muslims.

I haven't seen a single person say that or anything to that effect.

CBC has released the name of the shooter:"The gunman was killed and has been identified as Canadian-born Michael Zehaf-Bibeau."

**MeanGreenStompa**

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau identified as the dead shooter. A recent convert to Islam, as if anyone reading this is surprised...

The gunman in a fatal shooting that rocked Ottawa on Wendesday has been identified.

Canadian officials told the AP that the shooter, who killed a solider and wounded two others near the Canadian Parliament building, is Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.

Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, was from Quebec and had recently converted to Islam, U.S. sources told Reuters. According to the Globe and Mail, he had been designated a "high-risk traveler" by Canadian officials and was barred from traveling outside the country.

After police chased him inside the Parliament building, Zehaf-Bibeau was killed by Sgt. at Arms Kevin Vickers.

Witnesses told the AP that Zehaf-Bibeau was wearing a scarf over his face when he opened fire in front of the Canadian War Memorial, which is across the street from Parliament.

An Ottawa police spokesman told HuffPost that the police were looking for at least one other suspect. However, in a press conference later on Wednesday, officials declined to say if there were multiple possible shooters.

Wednesday's shooting quickly sparked terrorism fears. Just two days earlier, a Quebec man suspected of ties to radical Islam killed one soldier and wounded another with his car before being killed by police. As Reuters pointed out, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, the attacker, was one of 90 people being monitored by Canadian national police over extremist beliefs.

Earlier this month, NBC News reported that the Canadian government was monitoring "hundreds of people" that is suspected could be planning to join ISIS. Anonymous officials told NBC that they were aware of several threats from ISIS supporters, but they said that none were substantial.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/22/michael-zehaf-bibea-ottawa_n_6031064.html