Canadian gunman's attack "driven by ideological and political motives"

A video made by the gunman who attacked Canadian parliament last week reveals "persuasive evidence" that he was driven by political and ideological motives, police say.

A statement from Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Bob Paulson says Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, "prepared a video recording of himself just prior to conducting this attack".

The video is currently undergoing intensive analysis and is yet to be released.

According to Paulson, a knife carried by Zehaf-Bibeau was taken from a property belonging to his aunt in Mont Tremblant, where he lived three years ago.

The money used to fund his "pre-attack activities" was saved from when he worked in the oil fields of Alberta, Paulson added.

"He [Zehaf-Bibeau] had access to a considerable amount of funds.

"The RCMP is also investigating Zehaf-Bibeau's interactions with numerous individuals in the days leading up to this attack. The investigation is focusing on whether these interactions could have contributed or facilitated, in any way, the terrorist attack subsequently committed by Zehaf-Bibeau," Paulson said.

A Canadian convert to Islam, Zehaf-Bibeau is thought to have been radicalised though as yet there has been no link made between him and known Islamic extremists.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was inside Parliament in Ottawa at the time of the shooting, has labelled it a terror attack, however.

Harper said that Canada will "never be intimidated" by terrorist activity.

"Let there be no misunderstanding. We will not be intimidated," he said following the shooting. "In fact this will lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts - and those of our national security agencies - to take all necessary steps to identify and counter threats and keep Canada safe here at home."

Zehaf-Bibeau fired shots near an Ottawa war memorial, killing 24-year-old Corporal Nathan Cirillo, before himself being shot fatally inside parliament by Sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers on October 22.

related articles
\'Lord, keep this nation under your care.\' Canadian church leaders urge prayer after Parliament shooting
'Lord, keep this nation under your care.' Canadian church leaders urge prayer after Parliament shooting

'Lord, keep this nation under your care.' Canadian church leaders urge prayer after Parliament shooting

Islamist preacher rejects link to Ottawa shootings, warns of threat to Britain
Islamist preacher rejects link to Ottawa shootings, warns of threat to Britain

Islamist preacher rejects link to Ottawa shootings, warns of threat to Britain

News
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds

People who regularly attend church are more likely to report happy marriages, according to a new report examining the relationship between faith and family life.

Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk
Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk

Churches in Dhamtari, a town in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, have put up notices warning non-Christians that they enter at their own risk, weeks after a law against religious conversion came into force in the state.

£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes
£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes

Churches across the UK are being offered bursaries to help them establish mentoring programmes aimed at supporting young people and others in their communities.

World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary
World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has held an online celebration to mark its 180th anniversary. Hundreds of people from more than 22 countries attended, and the event was rebroadcast to accommodate different time zones.