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Shooting At Canadian Parliament 529

CBC reports that a man pulled up to the War Memorial in downtown Ottawa, got out of his car, and shot a soldier with a rifle. The Memorial is right next to the Canadian Parliament buildings. A shooter (reportedly the same one, but unconfirmed) also approached Parliament and got inside before he was shot and killed. "Scott Walsh, who was working on Parliament Hill, said ... the man hopped over the stone fence that surrounds Parliament Hill, with his gun forcing someone out of their car. He then drove to the front doors of Parliament and fired at least two shots, Walsh said." Canadian government officials were quickly evacuated from the building, while the search continues for further suspects. This comes a day after Canada raised its domestic terrorism threat level. Most details of the situation are still unconfirmed -- CBC has live video coverage here. They have confirmed that there was a second shooting at the Rideau Center, a shopping mall nearby.
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Shooting At Canadian Parliament

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  • Dear Canada.... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Lumpy ( 12016 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @10:58AM (#48204165) Homepage

    Dont let your idiots in parliment go all panic mode like the Raving Morons we have running this place in Washington DC.

    This was a rare incident by a insane person, nothing more. Put more money into public mental health.

    • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Galaga88 ( 148206 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:00AM (#48204189)

      I agree with not going into "panic mode", but we don't know who did this yet. It might be a person who could have been dealt with by improved public mental health, or it may have been a foreign actor engaging in terrorism against the Canadian state.

      We can't call what it is until we have facts. And we have precious few right now. Which is all the more reason not to panic.

      • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:5, Interesting)

        by CaptainLard ( 1902452 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:27AM (#48204455)
        Speaking of facts, what I find most shocking so far is "This comes a day after Canada raised its domestic terrorism threat level". I'd like to know more about a terrorism warning system that might be based in reality and not propaganda/lazyness (ours was "orange" for most of its existence IIRC).
        • There was a terrorist attack in Quebec [ctvnews.ca] yesterday.
      • by T.E.D. ( 34228 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @01:00PM (#48205307)

        ... or it may have been a foreign actor engaging in terrorism against the Canadian state.

        What kind of loser terrorist attacks Canada?

        Seriously, was the puppy room at the Petsmart too heavily guarded or something?

      • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:5, Insightful)

        by pubwvj ( 1045960 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @01:01PM (#48205321)

        It doesn't really matter who did it. We still don't want to over react. Whether it is the actions of a terrorist, a serial killer or an insane person do not change the fact that we should not over react. The response should differ, somewhat, but all of those responses should already be in place. Nothing new.

    • It was more than one guy,
    • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:4, Insightful)

      by MightyMartian ( 840721 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:08AM (#48204265) Journal

      Days after another Islamic radical mowed down two Canadian soldiers.

      It's not time to panic, to be sure. It's time to deal with radical Islamist extremists.

      • by sinij ( 911942 )
        >>> It's time to deal with radical Islamist extremists.

        How? Declare Islam a thought-crime?
        • Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)

          by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:50AM (#48204717)
          Comment removed based on user account deletion
          • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

            by dskoll ( 99328 )

            I bet the reaction of the "Muslim Community" will be to wring their hands about how they're now going to be subject to discrimination. I have very little time for that sort of bullshit woe-is-us attitude.

          • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:5, Informative)

            by Yaztromo ( 655250 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @12:41PM (#48205149) Homepage Journal

            No by getting the Muslim community involved and start turning in these idiots, the war on extremists is never going to be won unless the community that they belong to steps up.

            Thus far, in every case that has occurred within Canada, the first alerts received by police about radicalized Muslims has been from Imams at various mosques.

            The Muslim community has stepped up, and has been doing exactly what you extol. However, holding radical ideals isn't against the law in Canada; unless you can prove that a) an illegal act is being planned, or b) support is being given to an illegal organization, there isn't much the police can do except monitor the people involved.

            The attacker from Monday's attack in St. Jean-sur-Richaleau was being monitored by police, and had even recently been questions by them. They had confiscated his passport, as he had booked a flight to Turkey (purportedly to cross into Syria to join ISIS/ISIL), but as he hadn't broken any Canadian laws, were unable to detain him. I have little doubt the way police were alerted to this person in the first place was via people at his local mosque.

            Unfortunately, the police don't announce how they find out about the radicals they are tracking (news today has it that the RCMP is tracking 90 people for radicalist activities), in part to protect their sources. This is why you don't hear about it much in the media, but people on the inside know that it's been the leaders of Canadian mosques who have been at the forefront of reporting radical Islamic activity in this country.

            Yaz

        • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:5, Insightful)

          by dskoll ( 99328 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:56AM (#48204769) Homepage

          Recognize that the tenets of Islam are incompatible with Western Democracy. Then make it treasonous to promote those tenets.

          • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

            The tenets of Islam are not more incompatible than the tenets or radical christs.

            If you believe the Islam is your enemy then I might give you a hint: know your enemy, so you can fight him! And you will realize that Islam is a very moderate religion.

            • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:4, Insightful)

              by itzly ( 3699663 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @12:23PM (#48204979)
              Uh, no, there are as many different forms of Islam as there are muslims. Some muslims may be moderate, a few may even be very moderate, but plenty are not.
            • First, how can something be "very moderate?" How do you be more moderate than normal moderate?

              And while there are some moderate flavors of Islam, there are also violent, fanatical versions that have a not insignificant number of followers.

              Just saying, of all the religions in the world, and there are many, it seems like 99.9% of religious violence comes from Muslims. But no, no, they're "very moderate."

          • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

            About 6 billion of the world population are muslims, that's around 23% of the world population. Outlawing the world's second largest religion in a few select countries ("western democracies") would not work in practice, would violate basic principles of democracy, for example such a law would be incompatible with all constitutions of all western democracies, and would also be immoral according to the high moral standards of western democracies, in which laws against thought crimes are generally frowned upon

            • by ScentCone ( 795499 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @05:40PM (#48208119)

              About 6 billion of the world population are muslims, that's around 23% of the world population.

              I'm going to bet that even some of the most jihad-obsessed radicals, fresh from what passes for school Taliban-land, are better at math than you are.

              If there are 6 billion Muslims, and they make up 23% of the world population, that means the world as a population of over 26 billion people.

              Do you know some secret place on the planet where we're hiding almost 20 billion extra, previously unknown people?

        • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:5, Insightful)

          by lgw ( 121541 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @12:39PM (#48205141) Journal

          >>> It's time to deal with radical Islamist extremists.

          How? Declare Islam a thought-crime?

          The problem has never been "Islam", and wanting to eliminate terrorists has nothing to do with being anti-religion. The problem is, as has happen so often throughout history, a bunch of people who self-identify with a particular religion are being steered by leaders who claim that religion as a tool to get followers.

          The problem must be solved within the leadership of Islam. The honest leaders of the religion need to become more vigorous about this - expel those inciting violence, denounce them as heretics, cause a schism, all the same shit that the Catholic church had to go through in centuries past.

          National leaders who are not religious leaders need to do what they can to support that. When someone with religious authority denounces a terrorist religious leader as such, of course that terrorist group will try to kill that authority. The state can offer protection.

          Completely separate form religion, we should be bombing the fuck out of assholes who start conquering, looting and raping their neighbors like it was the middle ages! America still has some strength, and there's a growing territory where women have become property, and are being raped daily. Where men re being executed out of hand for having the wrong religion. Where they're partying like it's 999. We can't let that cancer grow - humanity mustn't slide back into barbarism.

          • ...we should be bombing the fuck out of assholes who start conquering, looting and raping their neighbors like it was the middle ages! ...... We can't let that cancer grow - humanity mustn't slide back into barbarism.

            Hahaha... Do you read what you write? These statement are about 3 sentences apart!

      • Two events do not make a pattern. Look at the overall frequency and you will realize that obesity, cardiac diseases and consequences of climate change are more important topics, and should proportionally be addressed and discussed more.

      • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:4, Insightful)

        by Dan667 ( 564390 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @12:47PM (#48205205)
        not scared of islamic radicals who are thousands of miles away. I am worried about the number of crazies like this guy and the complete lack of adequate mental health services due to decades of budget cuts.
      • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:5, Insightful)

        by pubwvj ( 1045960 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @01:07PM (#48205383)

        "It's time to deal with radical Islamist extremists."

        That sentence could be simplified to:

        "It's time to deal with extremists."

        Simplicity is beauty. And tends to get at the core of the problem.

    • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:4, Informative)

      by SuiteSisterMary ( 123932 ) <slebrun AT gmail DOT com> on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:12AM (#48204297) Journal

      Canada knows how to deal with terrorists [wikipedia.org] and move on with life.

      Canada doesn't take shit [wikipedia.org].

    • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

      by Dr Caleb ( 121505 )
      Sorry Lumpy, but this is the second soldier killed on Canadian soil this week by, presumably, an extremist. We only put up with so much, then we go all http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardenne_Abbey_massacre [wikipedia.org]Ardenne Abbey on them. As the German SS if that massacre was worth what our soldiers did to them afterward. "No Prisoners" was the chant.
      • No word on whether or not the soldier on guard at the Tomb is dead. Latest news is that there is a man being treated for gunshot wounds at one of Ottawa's hospitals.
      • by Lumpy ( 12016 )

        So it's time to go all ape-shit like we have in the USA and have military in the streets? Our cops are driving assault vehicles, carrying M16 machine guns and waterboarding people for jay-walking.

        I though canadians were level headed people.

        • I didn't say any of that. I said, we know how to mete our own form of justice to those that deserve it.

          We will not go apeshit. We will not allow our government unrestricted control over every aspect of our lives or violate our laws.

          What we will do is find those responsible, and hold them accountable, and very little will stop us until we think this has been accomplished. That is the way we have always done things. (And perhaps burn down the Whitehouse just for shits and giggles on the way home. ;) )

    • Re:Dear Canada.... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Sir_Eptishous ( 873977 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:27AM (#48204451)
      Actually, they should invade Iraq.
      That will fix things!
      • Actually, we are sending several fighter jets to bomb ISIS, right now. Odds are that's what is precipitating these attacks.

    • 3 insane people it appears but your point is still valid

    • by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      I think today's the day Harper is about to ram his CSIS spying power bill through Parliament, as well. You know, the one that's increasing the ability of CSIS to spy domestically.

      Even though the two soldiers who were run over were already well known. They already have the power being enacted (the ability to keep sources secret - a power they've actually never invoked, either),

      Heck, one could argue it's to justify it all...

    • by dskoll ( 99328 )

      I don't think this was a rare incident by an insane person. There have been shootings at at least three different locations in Ottawa and there apparently are multiple shooters. This is a planned terrorist attack.

      I live in Ottawa and I'm aware of the security of Parliament Hill. The security there was completely inadequate to deal with this kind of threat; it really needs to be increased.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Nemyst ( 1383049 )
      Panic mode? Nah. Harper must be filled with glee right now, this is exactly the sort of excuse he needed to start cracking down on personal liberties in the name of fighting terrorism or being "tough on crime" so we jail those horrible monsters, alongside drug users, copyright infringers and other such nefarious criminals.
  • by brunes69 ( 86786 ) <slashdot@keirstead . o rg> on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:02AM (#48204213)

    It's important for non-Canadians to realize that Parliment Hill is not the White House or US Senate. Parliment in Canada is a public commons. There is no security at all on the ground of Parliment and the space is routinely used for large scale public protests and demonstrations, less than a couple of dozen yards of Parliment itself. It's a different ball game.

    • by gstoddart ( 321705 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:09AM (#48204275) Homepage

      It is inaccurate to say there is no security at all. There's plenty of cameras, and both uniformed and non-uniformed security.

      However, it is still a public place, and we do have the right to go there. In no small part because we refuse to treat our politicians like royalty

    • It's important for non-Canadians to realize that Parliment Hill is not the White House or US Senate. Parliment in Canada is a public commons. There is no security at all on the ground of Parliment and the space is routinely used for large scale public protests and demonstrations, less than a couple of dozen yards of Parliment itself. It's a different ball game.

      That's not true. You used to be able to drive onto parliament hill, which was great at Christmas to see all the lights. But in the past few years they've stopped all car traffic except cleared vehicles, they've got Ottawa police providing security along with accusations of kickbacks for the service (I can't find the link as Google is flooded with today's stories on the shooting), they have always had security within the buildings themselves (eg: security guards preventing MPs from entering the House for a [www.cbc.ca]

  • by wiredog ( 43288 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:07AM (#48204259) Journal

    Crazed shooters are totally our thing.

    --America.

  • by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:12AM (#48204299)

    The blurb is all over the place. The shooting is in Ottawa, Canada, Canada's capital. A man with a shotgun walked up to one of two soldiers posted at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and shot one of the soldiers. He then ran off, got into a car, and drove to the gates of Canada's Parliament Buildings center block (you can't drive to the front door, not since 9/11). He ran in and shots were fired. The Seargent At Arms shot and killed the shooter, but there are more shooters in the building (RCMP and Ottawa police are all over it). The parliament buildings are about 2 blocks from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There is a large hotel about a block from Parliament, the Chateau Laurier. There was a shooter in there also, and there is also a large shopping mall about 3 blocks away "Rideau Center". There are shooters in there too. This all follows a 'lone wolf' Jihadist running over (with a car) two soldiers at an army recruiting center yesterday. He was later shot (and killed by police). Also yesterday 6 CF-18's left Canada to join the war on the ISIS (or ISAL or ass-hole, however you want to call them). Also, today Malala Yousafzai was to receive honorary Canadian Citizenship (she is in Ottawa).

  • A lot of the video is echos, only heard 9 actual. At least 3 at memorial.

    Have only heard of 2 possible perpatrators, one is down.

    Be safe, remember Canadians will never live in Fear, be strong.

    (and to you in America, Canadians do know what to do)

  • So is "Domestic Terrorism Threat Level" a ranking of how disenfranchised the population feels beyond the level of "Peaceful Protest"?

  • by Stavr0 ( 35032 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:21AM (#48204405) Homepage Journal

    We are in a total lockdown. No one gets in or out.

  • by Blaskowicz ( 634489 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @11:30AM (#48204489)

    This is a War memorial! You can't shoot people here!

  • by Anonymous Coward

    ....to not overact.

    Could be some IS wannabe loser(s), maybe domestic terrorist or a person with mental health issues. We do not know yet.

    What I do know is the country is NOT in mortal danger (not even close), no they are not coming for you women and children.

    We do not need to give up more civil liberties, no lock-down is required.

    Wait for the facts to surface, then deal with it accordingly.

    If we give in to fear and hysteria....well they win...

  • Just a few days ago in a town south of Montreal, Quebec, a man hit two soldiers with his car, killing one of them [www.cbc.ca]. They're saying he was "radicalized" and waited in the parking lot for 2 hours before the attack. I haven't seen anyone provide info to tie the two attacks together, but I'm sure the question will come up.

    I suppose Facebooks new Safe Check [slashdot.org] would be useful today - my family have already text me to let me know they're safe, but it would be great to know none of my friends have been hurt.

  • by max99ted ( 192208 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @12:14PM (#48204931)

    I work at 55 Metcalfe st which is the corner of Queen and Metcalfe. I can see the parliament buildings from one of the corner offices. We are still locked down and cannot leave the premises. I think every police officer in the city is down here they are currently doing a grid search of buildings between Queen and Wellington streets.

  • by tekrat ( 242117 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @12:23PM (#48204981) Homepage Journal

    A gunman in a government building? In the USA there's be 100,000 cops, the national guard, a dozen tanks, 50 helicopters, CNN and Fox News screaming into the camera "OHMYGOD OHMYGOWD!!!!" and the area would be in lockdown for 72 hours at least and a hazmat crew sent in afterwards ---- all for one shooter with a .22 rifle.

  • Muzzies again (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Chrisq ( 894406 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @04:02PM (#48207273)
    When will people realise that Islam isn't the religion of peace? I suppose one good thing to come out of this is that next time people suggest that we appease the Muslims, that maybe if we just let them take more sex slaves and kill more non-muslims they'd leave us alone we can point out that even a moderate country like Canada is targeted by Muslims

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