OTTAWA — The gunman who shot dead a soldier in Canada's capital and then stormed Parliament last year said he was protesting against Canadian military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to a video recording released on Friday. Michael Zehaf-Bibeau made the short video on his mobile phone just before he launched his attacks on Oct 22. Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian convert to Islam, died in a gun battle with police and security guards shortly after entering the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.
Two days earlier, another convert to Islam had run down and killed a soldier in Quebec with his car. Harper cited the attacks and the threat of "jihadist terrorism" as the reason for a tough new draft security law the right-leaning Conservative government unveiled on Jan. 30. Critics say the law — which would give Canada's spies greater powers to disrupt attacks — is too sweeping. Canada maintained a military mission in Afghanistan for the 10 years up to 2011.
IN-DEPTH
- U.S. Tightens Federal Security After Threats, Attacks in Canada
- Canadian Parliament Shooter Made Video Before Attack, Police Say
- Man Who Killed Soldier With Car Was Radical Muslim, Authorities Say
