Police: Ottawa gunman was driven by ideological motives, made video

USPA News - Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, the man who opened fire at and near the Canadian parliament in Ottawa, had earlier recorded a video of himself which provides "persuasive evidence" that he was driven by ideological and political motives, police said on Sunday. Bob Paulson, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), said the ongoing investigation into Wednesday`s deadly shooting had revealed much information about Zehaf-Bibeau`s movements and actions prior to the attack, which claimed the life of soldier Nathan Cirillo who stood a ceremonial guard at the National War Memorial near parliament.

"The RCMP has identified persuasive evidence that Michael Zehaf-Bibeau`s attack was driven by ideological and political motives. Zehaf-Bibeau had prepared a video recording of himself just prior to conducting this attack," Commissioner Paulson said, adding that the video could not yet be released. "The RCMP is conducting a detailed analysis of the video for evidence and intelligence." Although authorities believe Zehaf-Bibeau was acting alone in carrying out the attack, investigators are also looking into his interactions with "numerous individuals" in the days leading up to the shooting. "The investigation is focusing on whether these interactions could have contributed or facilitated, in any way, the terrorist attack subsequently committed by Zehaf-Bibeau," Paulson said. The commissioner said Zehaf-Bibeau, who had been employed in the oil fields of Alberta, had saved money which allowed him to fund his pre-attack activities. It is believed the knife he carried was retrieved from his aunt`s property in Mont Tremblant, in Quebec, where he had lived years earlier. The origin of the weapon, a .30-30 Winchester Model 94 rifle, remains unclear. "It is an old and uncommon gun. We suspect that he could have similarly hidden the gun on the property [in Mont Tremblant] but our inquiries continue," Paulson said. "This nationally scoped investigation remains exceptionally active and fluid. The RCMP undertakes to get as much information to the public as quickly as we can." In addition to the RCMP`s investigation, the agency has also asked the Ontario Provincial Police to conduct an investigation into the death of Zehaf-Bibeau, who was shot and killed by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers inside the Canadian parliament. "The RCMP is confident we will have an authoritative and detailed account of the shooting, including a complete reconstruction of the heroic actions of those involved, in the weeks to come," Paulson said.