Canadian prime minister: We will not be intimidated by Ottawa shooting

Stephen Harper, Canada’s Prime Minister, vowed a tough and uncompromising response to Ottawa shooting that killed a soldier.

16:19 23 October 2014

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has delivered a somber television address following attacks in the country that left a soldier dead and a nation in shock.

Earlier, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau forced his way into the parliament building guns blazing before being killed by a ceremonial officer. On Monday, another incident was reported where a soldier was ran down by a car in Quebec.

“This week’s events are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to the types of terrorist attacks we have seen elsewhere around the world,” Harper said in his address to the nation.

“We are also reminded that attacks on our security personnel and our institutions of governance are by their very nature attacks on our country, on our values, on our society, on us Canadians as a free and democratic people who embrace human dignity for all. But let there be no misunderstanding. We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated.”

Meanwhile, Canada elevated its domestic terror threat from low to medium. “The decision to raise the level is linked to an increase in general chatter from radical Islamist organizations like Isil, al-Qaida, al-Shabaab and others who pose a clear threat to Canadians,” said a statement from the ministry of public safety and emergency preparedness.

Before the attempted onslaught in the government building, Michael Abdul Zehaf-Bibeau fatally shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo - a Canadian Army reserve soldier on duty as a ceremonial guard.