Police say Ottawa gunman driven by ideological, political motives

This image provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police shows an undated image of Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, who shot a soldier to death at Canada's national war memorial Wednesday and was eventually gunned down inside Parliament by the sergeant-at-arms. (AP Photo/Vancouver Police via The Royal Canadian Mounted Police)

Canadian authorities said late Sunday that the gunman who fatally shot a soldier and attacked the Parliament building in Ottawa last week had "ideological and political" motives.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a statement that Michael Zehaf-Bibeau had made a video of himself prior to committing Wednesday's attack. No details of the video's contents were released, but CBC News reported that the gunman appeared to make specific references to Canadian foreign policy in the video and praises Allah. CBC also reported that the video appeared to have been made the day before the attack and would be released publicly later this week.

Zehaf-Bibeau, a 32-year-old Muslim convert with a history of criminal activity, gunned down Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was guarding the National War Memorial, before entering Parliament's Centre Block, where he was killed by House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper referred to the shooting as a terror attack in an address to the nation late Wednesday, and the bloodshed raised fears that Canada is suffering reprisals for joining the U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria.

Police are investigating Zehaf-Bibeau's interactions with numerous individuals in the days leading up to the attack and whether they could have contributed or facilitated it.

Paulson said a knife carried by Zehaf-Bibeau was taken from his aunt's property in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, and they're looking into how he got the rifle. RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson called it an "old and uncommon gun" that police suspect he could have also hidden on the property.

Paulson said investigators also identified where the attacker got his money for the car he bought and his pre-attack activities. He said Zehaf-Bibeau has been employed in the oil fields in Alberta, saved his money and had access to a considerable amount of funds.

"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," said Paulson, who also said the Ontario Provincial Police will investigate the shooting inside Parliament.

The attack in Ottawa came two days after a man described as an "ISIL-inspired terrorist" ran over two soldiers in a parking lot in Quebec, killing one and injuring the other before being shot to death by police. The man had been under surveillance by Canadian authorities, who feared he had jihadist ambitions and seized his passport when he tried to travel to Turkey.

Unlike the attacker in the Quebec case, Zehaf-Bibeau was not being watched by authorities. But Paulson said last week Zehaf-Bibeau, whose father was from Libya, may have lashed out in frustration over delays in getting his passport. Paulson said his mother told police that her son had wanted to go Syria. Susan Bibeau later denied that in a letter published by Postmedia News, saying her son told her he wanted to go to Saudi Arabia where he could study the Koran.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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