The Day Canada’s Federal Parliament was Attacked by a Man with a Gun
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, speaking later at Cirillo’s funeral, said, “He has now joined the ranks of so many brave Canadians who have gone before him, having given all in the service of their country.”
On Wednesday, October 22, 2014, chaos erupted in our capital city, Ottawa, when police received multiple 911 calls about a shooting at the National War Memorial.
A witness described seeing a man dressed all in black with a kerchief over his nose and mouth, holding a rifle and shooting an honor guard, point blank, in front of the War Memorial Cenotaph.
Within a short time the gunman ran up Parliament Hill and entered the Peace Tower entrance, which leads to the Centre Block, where he shot a Commons security guard in the leg. He then dashed up a set of stairs into the Hall of Honor, where he exchanged gunfire with three other guards, before charging down the Hall towards the Library of Parliament.
Politicians Were Prepared to Fight
That morning the Centre Block of the House of Commons was busy with its “caucus day” meaning that 150 Members of Parliament of the different parties and senators…