WATCH ABOVE: The RCMP says Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was driven by ideological and political motives and that he had prepared a video recording of himself before the attack. Mike le Couteur reports.
TORONTO – The RCMP say it has obtained a video of Michael Zehaf-Bibeau prior to Wednesday’s shooting in Ottawa that killed a Canadian soldier and led to a gunfight on Parliament Hill.
RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson released a statement saying investigators have retrieved a video recording he made prior to the attack and have determined Zehaf-Bibeau was “driven by ideological and political motives.”
“The RCMP is conducting a detailed analysis of the video for evidence and intelligence. You must understand that we cannot release this video at this time and I would ask for your patience in this regard,” Paulson wrote in his statement.
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Paulson said the Mounties are also focusing on Zehaf-Bibeau’s actions leading up to the attack, including his time spent working in Alberta and interactions with “numerous individuals.”
The shooter had worked in the oil fields in Alberta and saved significant amount money, the RCMP said.
“He had access to a considerable amount of funds. We are investigating all of his disbursements in the period leading up to the attack,” said Paulson.
As part of the ongoing investigation the RCMP are still working to identify where and when Zehaf-Bibeau obtained the “old and uncommon gun” used in Wednesday’s attack in Ottawa.
Paulson said the RCMP have asked the Ontario Provincial Police to review the Mounties handling of the gunfight inside Parliament.
VIDEO GALLERY:
On Oct. 22, Zehaf-Bibeau gunned down Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was standing guard at the National War Memorial. Cirillo later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
After opening fire at the downtown cenotaph, Zehaf-Bibeau quickly made in his way to Centre Block on Parliament Hill where he engaged in a shootout with RCMP and House of Commons Security, eventually dying in a hail of bullets.
Canada’s Sergeant-at-Arms, Kevin Vickers, is being credited with killing the gunman who was running through one of Parliament’s main hallways.
Across the country today people gathered at memorials and flags were lowered to half mast in honour of the soldier who died.
Cirillo, 24, was a reservist in the Canadian Forces from Hamilton, Ont., where he had a young son.
A public visitation for the fallen soldier is scheduled for Monday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a regimental funeral scheduled for Tuesday.
He is to be buried in a field of honour at a Hamilton cemetery.
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