On October 22, 2014, Canada received what many consider a “terrorist” attack. Michael Zehaf-Bibeau opened fire on a guard at the National War Memorial, his name was Corporal. Nathan Cirillo.

Cirillo was just 24 years old when Bibeau shot and killed him. Three other guards were involved but they received minor injuries.

The shooting happened at about ten a.m. when operators received 911 calls about the shootings at the memorial. After hijacking a car, Zehaf-Bibeau then headed towards the parliament building. He was later shot and killed after a gun fight in the parliament building. Parliament stayed on lockdown during this time as people hid wherever they could until the building was deemed clear.

The man who killed the shooter, Kevin Vickers, 58, was greeted in Parliament when they went back to work again a few days after the event. It was a very emotional ceremony as the members of Parliament sang the national anthem and had a moment of silence for the fallen soldier.

When asked about the incident Vickers, very humbled, replied, “I am very touched by the attention directed at me following yesterday’s events.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, addressed the nation and said, “We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated,”

People believe this was an act of terrorism. As it was the second attack on Canada in the same week. The shooter followed Muslim religion, which points many fingers at the motive. One question that has remained to be answered is: ‘Why Canada?’ Canada is a nation of relative peace, so why would anyone want to attack them?

FSA Connection Questions

1. What was the main idea of the passage?
2. What is the author’s opinion of the subject?
3. What is the purpose of the passage?
4. How does the author feel about the terrorism?
5. What does the word humbled mean in the passage?