The mother of a man who Canadian police say killed a soldier in Ottawa Wednesday before shooting up the halls of Parliament said she has "no explanation to offer" for what her estranged son did.
Susan Bibeau told the Associated Press that part of her "wants to hate" Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32. Authorities identified the Montreal native as the lone gunman who carried out a rampage in the capital before a security officer fatally shot him. In an email, Susan Bibeau said "I am mad at our son."
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Thursday that Zehaf-Bibeau arrived in Ottawa from Vancouver earlier this month to sort out a passport issue. Police said he wanted to travel to Syria and "may have held extremist beliefs."
After fatally shooting a military reservist at the National War Memorial in central Ottawa, surveillance video released by police Thursday shows the gunman parking a car in front of Parliament. Dressed in black, he sprints from the vehicle toward the building with a weapon in his hand. Bystanders scramble out of his way.
A security officer inside Parliament fatally shot Zehaf-Bibeau as lawmakers hid in offices and Prime Minister Stephen Harper was moved to safety.
Despite early reports of accomplices at the scene, authorities now believe the assailant acted alone.
Members of Parliament on Thursday gave an extended ovation to Canada's sergeant-at-arms, Kevin Vickers, who is credited with killing Zehaf-Bibeau.
Earlier Thursday, Harper pledged to boost surveillance and the detention powers of Canada's security forces.
He said the attacks were supposed to induce widespread panic among Canadians, but his country would be undaunted.
"We will not be intimidated. We will be vigilant, but we will not run scared. We will be prudent, but we will not panic," said Harper.
There is no indication from authorities that the Ottawa attack is linked to the slaying of a soldier near Montreal earlier in the week.
A man the prime minister described as a Muslim convert who had been "radicalized" drove a car into two Canadian soldiers in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, about 40 kilometers southeast of Montreal, killing one.
Canada Mourns
