The mother of the man accused of killing a soldier at Ottawa’s war memorial then storming parliament before being shot dead says she is crying for the victims of the shooting, not her son.
In a brief and tear-filled telephone interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Susan Bibeau said she did not know what to say to those hurt in the attack.
“Can you ever explain something like this?” she said. “We are sorry.”
Investigators offered little information about the gunman in Ottawa, identified as 32-year-old petty criminal Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.
Canadian police conceded on Thursday that Zehaf-Bibeau was the lone gunman, the second attack in three days in what the prime minister described as terrorism.
Bibeau said she was devastated for the victims of the attack.
“If I’m crying it’s for the people,” she said, struggling to hold back tears. “Not for my son.”
Bideau and her husband had earlier sent the AP a lengthy email expressing horror and sadness at what happened.
“I am mad at my son,” the email said, explaining that he seemed lost “and did not fit in.”
“I his mother spoke with him last week over lunch, I had not seen him for over five years before that,” the email said. “So I have very little insight to offer.”
Court records that appear to be the gunman’s show that he had a long rap sheet, with a string of convictions for assault, robbery, drug and weapons offenses, and other crimes.
Government officials credited 58-year-old Parliament sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers with shooting the attacker just outside the MPs’ caucus rooms.
MPs gave Vickers a rousing standing ovation for saving their lives as parliament resumed on Thursday morning.
Applause rang out on Thursday for the guardian of the cradle of Canada’s democracy, followed by a prayer, the national anthem, a moment of silence and a brief statement by the prime minister.
“The objective of these attacks was to instill fear and panic in our country and to interrupt the business of government,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the chamber as business resumed.
“Well, members, as I said yesterday, Canadians will not be intimidated. We will be vigilant but we will not run scared.
“We will be prudent but we will not panic and as for the business of government, well, here we are, in our seats, in our chamber in the very heart of our democracy and our work.”
Harper then crossed the floor to shake Vickers’ hand, and to hug opposition leaders.
Earlier, the prime minister had lain a bouquet of flowers at the Ottawa war memorial where an unarmed Canadian soldier mounting a ceremonial guard was shot dead on Wednesday.
AP/AFP
