Thursday October 23, 2014
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, the Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 23, 2014
Masked gunman killed after Canadian soldier, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, fatally shot at National War Memorial
A soldier was fatally shot at the National War Memorial Wednesday morning before a single, masked suspect was shot dead in Parliament. The chaotic situation is ongoing as police seek multiple suspects in the attack but say they do not know how many individuals were involved.
“One shooting victim succumbed to injuries. He was a member of the Canadian Forces. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his loved ones,” Ottawa police said in a statement.
The soldier has been identified as Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a reservist based out of Hamilton, Ontario.
“Today a member of Hamilton’s own Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was killed while performing the duties of a sentry at the National War Memorial,” Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina said in a statement.
Two others were injured in the attack, one of them a security guard at Parliament’s Centre Block. Both are in stable condition.
One gunman has also been confirmed dead.
“One male suspect has also been confirmed deceased,” police said. Sources told The Canadian Press that Kevin Vickers, the sergeant-at-arms for the House of Commons and 29-year RCMP veteran, shot the gunman within Parliament.
CBS News said the gunman has been identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian born in 1982, citing unnamed U.S. government sources.
The RCMP and Ottawa police say: “This is an ongoing joint police operation and there is no one in custody at this time.”
At an afternoon press conference, police said they could not confirm yet if the gunman who shot the soldier is the same as the one who was killed in Parliament.
Gilles Michaud, RCMP assistant commissioner, called it a “dynamic, unfolding situation.”
Police have been tight with information, leaving politicians to be the first to break news Wednesday.
“Gunman at Parliament’s Centre Block has been shot and killed,” Conservative MP Bernard Trottier tweeted at 10:30 a.m. Tory MP Bob Zimmer also reported the same.
Police expanded their perimeter throughout Wednesday afternoon and have confirmed there has been shootings in two areas, the National War Memorial and in Parliament. Police said there was no shooting at the Rideau Centre, as was reported earlier during the chaotic situation. (Source: National Post)
LETTERS to THE EDITOR
Insulting image demands an apology – Hamilton Spectator, October 27, 2014
What an egregious insult Thursday’s cartoon is to the citizens of this country. Is The Spectator that short on Canadian-ness that you could not think of a Canadian image to present your point — you just had to superimpose a Twin Towers impression, a tragedy paid for and sanctified by American blood?
Shame on you all. You owe an apology to every Canadian and American citizen. – Judy Kambeitz, Dunnville
Cartoon was shameful – Hamilton Spectator, October 27, 2014
The rendition of the events which dreadfully occurred at the Parliament building as conveyed by Graeme MacKay’s sketch the day after Nathan Cirillo was gunned down is a shameful depiction far from what readers would expect in conveying what remained in the hearts of all civilized Canadians. Heavy smoke shown permeating from the building bears no significance to the actual happening there on that day. A depiction of reverently bowed heads under a seam of grey clouds would have been far more fitting. – Frank L. Gallo, Ancaster