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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Person Jumps Fence at White House; Shootings at Canada's Parliament Buildings; Sources: Dead Gunman Converted To Islam
Aired October 22, 2014 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening, from Ottawa, Canada, a city that is stunned at this hour with the violence that they have witnessed over the last several hours. The situation here right now is still very tense, and much of the area that we are in, very near Parliament Hill is still in lockdown.
The National War Memorial where all this began is just a few blocks over that hill, a couple of blocks away from here. That is where a soldier was shot and killed earlier today. A gunman then moving towards Parliament Hill where a security officer was shot, that gunman himself shot and killed inside that building.
There is a lot to get to in the hour ahead. We are anticipating a press conference from Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper. We'll of course bring that to you live. But we're also learning a lot more about this gunman, a Canadian-born convert to Islam, with a decade long criminal record before his conversion, was responsible for this. Take a look.
The scene this morning inside Canada's main parliament building. There is, it goes almost without saying, an enormous amount of concern right here, both here and in the United States about terrorism, whether it's a lone wolf attacks or others, security breaches. That is why we begin also right now in Washington where just moments ago another person has jumped the White House fence.
Jim Acosta is standing nearby. He joins us now by phone.
Jim, what do we know about this incident?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, from talking to Secret Service officials I can tell you around 7:30 this evening, there was another fence jumper, an unidentified man jumped the fence at the White House, the North Lawn, that is basically was running along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, and tried to make his way towards the White House.
But at that point the Secret Service released its K-9 dogs on that individual. He was taken down by two dogs almost immediately, I'm told, after scaling the fence. And I'm told from the Secret Service official that because of the wounds suffered by this individual he's going to have to go to the hospital because the dogs moved so quickly and took him down.
COOPER: Jim, has there been heightened security at the White House in the wake of the attacks here in Canada?
ACOSTA: Absolutely. Well, in the wake of what's happened in Canada, I mean, that is something we have not seen throughout the day. I think there is heightened security right now because of this fence jumping incident. Pennsylvania Avenue is a pedestrian area. Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the White House. That has been completely shut down.
Press, White House staff, anybody who works at the White House, you cannot get inside and outside of the White House right now because of the security situation. So all of that has been ramped up, I'm told, by Secret Service, that they're going through their normal protocols right now. Some of those protocols changed in light of the fence jumping incident. And the White House security from back in September, some of that changed in light of that incident.
And so that -- all of those procedures right now are taking place as Secret Service officials deal with the situation right now. But I can tell you that this is something that the Secret Service officers were waiting for. You know, they were -- they were anticipating that somebody else might try to pass the security here because of what has taken in place in the last few weeks.
I'm not sure if you're aware of this, Anderson, but they've actually put up an additional temporary fence outside of the White House, along Pennsylvania Avenue, that runs along the normal fence. So this person would have had to jump over that temporary fence which is basically bike racks that are hooked up to each other, and then scaled the existing fence of the White House to get on the ground of the White House.
And so this person was able to penetrate all of that for a few seconds before these dogs took him down. Now in terms of what happened with Canada earlier today, we did not see a measurable difference in terms of the security going on at the White House today because of what happened in Canada. But you know, we were told by the Secret Service officials that they were monitoring what's happened in Canada and keeping an eye on things there just in case.
COOPER: Jim, I appreciate the update there. Obviously, there is a lot of tension on both sides of the border right now. Sadly what happened here in Ottawa is far, far worse. Blood has been shed, a soldier killed just several blocks away from here. You can still hear sirens still going on all throughout this entire area, much of it as I said still on lockdown.
A number of the buildings, the parliamentary building included, that is also still on lockdown. All these hours later, the search for possible additional suspects is still under way. At this hour they are still not clear whether this was a lone gunman, a lone wolf, if you will, whether this man had connections to some other jihadist groups or whether he had one or two other colleagues who he was working with.
We do not know if there was more than one shooter at this point. And we are waiting for that press conference from the prime minister. The bottom line, this capital, this country are on edge. And in mourning for the loss of the life of this soldier.
As Canada's leading news anchor Peter Mansbridge put it tonight, the gunman struck the soul of Canada's remembrance, the Memorial, and at the heart of its democracy, the Parliament.
The question now, did the shooting have wider connections to global extremists?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We don't yet have all the information about whether this was part of a broader network or plan or whether this was an individual or series of individuals who decided to take these actions. But it emphasizes the degree to which we have to remain vigilant when it comes to dealing with these kinds of acts of senseless violence or terrorism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: That was President Obama who spoke earlier to Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper.
Tonight, what we are learning about the alleged killer and the attack. We're live all through this hour, we're going to be back at the 11:00 hour for all the latest updates.
It comes barely that the attacks here today, and it's important to note this, come barely two days after an apparent lone wolf style, hit-and-run killing of another Canadian soldier in Quebec by another convert to Islam. That man also shot and killed by authorities (INAUDIBLE).
All this is happening about a month after ISIS called for lone wolf attacks in the U.S. and Canada. And we're going to dig deeper into all of that tonight. But I do want to just get you up to date on all that has happened here over the last several hours.
Randi Kaye has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 9:52 a.m. a blaze of gunfire at the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa. One of two soldiers standing guard at the memorial is gunned down.
PETER HENDERSON, EYEWITNESS: I was locking my bike up. I heard four shots. I heard from that direction, I turned around and ran. And I saw one of those soldiers laying on the ground.
KAYE: Eyewitness Peter Henderson tells CNN the shots sounded like they came from a high-powered rifle. Other witnesses describe the shooter as a man with dark hair and a scarf on his head, carrying a huge rifle.
HENDERSON: The man just came around the corner of the prime minister's office, put the gun on his shoulder and fired four shots into the back of this soldier. It was clearly a target.
KAYE: Henderson says the soldier appears to have fallen backwards. Strangers and emergency personnel rushed in to try and save him as the gunman runs away.
But this is just the beginning. Minutes later, a quarter mile away on Parliament Hill, this terrifying sound echoes through the chambers.
It is now about 10 a.m. Witnesses report a gunman entered the main Parliament building through an entrance meant for officials. He exchanges gunfire with security officers.
HENDERSON: I heard a rapid fire of what appeared to be about 20 shots or more. Very loud, it appeared to be fairly close.
KAYE: Canada's prime minister is quickly escorted along with some members of parliament to a safe location. But dozens remain inside on lockdown. They tweet to let others know they're safe. MP Michelle Rempel tweets, "Mom, I'm OK. I'm in hiding." And this tweet from Senator Jim Munson reads in part, "Everyone safe, but shaken, heard plenty of gunfire. MPs say they could smell gunpowder."
By 10:30 a.m., a journalist inside parliament tells reporters he saw a body slumped over. It will be hours, though, before we get official word that the gunman is dead. Killed by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers.
Four others reportedly injured in the attack including a security guard at parliament are taken to Ottawa Hospital. Meanwhile, Ottawa Police still don't know how many suspects they are looking for. At 11:22 a.m., police tell CNN there may have been two or three shooters at the War Memorial.
HENDERSON: They do believe there is another gunman at large at this moment. He may be on the run.
KAYE: At 11:40 a.m., there is word of yet another shooting from police. This one a seven-minute walk from parliament, near Ottawa's Rideau Center Mall. Later, that report is discounted.
Just before noon, the U.S. embassy in Ottawa is locked down, and President Obama is briefed on the shooting. Then, just after 1:00 p.m., this grim news.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Sad news, the Canadian soldier who was shot at the War Memorial in Ottawa has died.
KAYE: The soldier is identified as Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a Reservist from Hamilton, Ontario. Late this afternoon, more bad news, Ottawa's police spokesperson confirms to CNN they are still looking for additional suspects. The last thing those in Ottawa needed to hear after such a terrifying day.
Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE) COOPER: A terrifying day indeed, and even a terrifying night for those people who are still right now in lockdown. Authorities going, and some buildings, room to room, floor by floor, searching to see if there are any other gunmen involved.
We are learning more, though, about the gunman who has been killed.
Susan Candiotti has been looking into that for us.
Susan, what do we know about this guy?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you said earlier, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau is his name. He's in his 30, he was born in Canada, born in 1982, and we understand that he was a convert to Islam. Prior to this he had a lot of trouble with drugs in his past and reportedly was even arrested several times.
COOPER: He has an arrest record I think for a variety of drugs.
CANDIOTTI: Exactly. Exactly. But now a new critical information is coming to light as authorities are trying to figure out whether he was acting on his own. And that is this, his passport was seized. Can't tell you exactly when. But according to our U.S. law enforcement official they found out that it was confiscated, seized by Canadian authorities, as he was getting ready to travel overseas telling them that he had the intention of fighting overseas.
COOPER: So when they seized his passport because they felt he was a risk to go and fight overseas?
CANDIOTTI: Exactly, and that's why he was designated as a high-risk traveler.
COOPER: It's also important to point out that the same situation, the man two days who drove over, who used a vehicle to kill another Canadian soldier and wounded another, he also had his passport confiscated because he had attempted to go overseas as well.
CANDIOTTI: Exactly, so did they have any connection to each other? Did they know each other at all? What kind of footprint do both of these man have? Including this one. On the Internet. Was he self- radicalized? Was he a lone wolf? These are some of the many things they're taking a look at.
COOPER: Right.
CANDIOTTI: To see what kind of history he has.
COOPER: Not to mention, as we've been repeating several times they are still looking to see if there was another shooter there or other cohorts involved in the attacks today.
CANDIOTTI: They may not have completely ruled that out, but as my official stressed again and again, we've seen this time and again just as we did with the U.S. naval yard shootings. A lot of times witnesses think they see someone and they think it might be a different person, but it turns out more often than not in the majority of the times, just to be one person.
COOPER: All right, Susan Candiotti, thanks very much.
The images that riveted the world all day came from Josh Wingrove. He's a reporter for Canada's newspaper of record "The Globe and Mail." He has been inside parliament all day under lockdown, all evening, he joins us now by phone.
Josh, you're still in lockdown. I know you've been inside the parliament for much of the day ever since the shooting. Have you been given any specifics about why you're still being kept?
JOSH WINGROVE, REPORTER, THE GLOBE AND MAIL: No, it raises a lot of questions. At first they were saying essentially that it was not safe, that if we were to be going outside that we'd be in more danger than if we stayed inside. We weren't that safe inside to begin with. I mean, we were near windows, we're on the ground in sort of, you know, in an open area.
So it is very much up in the air at this point. Of course, we've been hiding here since 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, so it's been dragging on and they've started now to let people out so we're hoping that we'll get out soon. But, you know, just a harrowing day. And certainly all signs are pointing towards this thing so a very fluid situation, given that we're all still being held here.
COOPER: Have authorities been giving you any information throughout the day? I mean, it's still not clear whether or not this was just one gunman or whether they believe there were others?
WINGROVE: Yes, we've been in a bit of an echo chamber here where, you know, we've got a TV in the corner of this room that we've been glued to it. We've gotten absolutely no information from the officials here in the room. Early on, after the shooting, there was sort of information a long (INAUDIBLE), you know, talk of how many people were injured.
We understand in parliament there was one guard shot in the leg. And of course the shooter appears to have been down in the video that I shot there. But you know, very little information since then. So we have been relying on Twitter, on TV, on whatever to try to keep ourselves informed. But, you know, we've been essentially sort of been lockdown, prevented from going anywhere since 10:00 a.m. now.
So I think certainly I'm starting to wonder why that is. Is it because the building that we're in is not safe? Is it because the area outside the building is not safe? We don't know.
COOPER: We have been showing our viewers the video that you recorded inside the parliament building when the shooting actually was occurring. We're showing it right now. Explain to people what you saw, what you heard, where you were when you first realized that there was an attack under way.
WINGROVE: Yes, so I was around the corner in another hallway, and we just talked to Canada's justice minister, and he was saying he wanted to change the laws to make it easier for police track terror suspects. We've been attacked a couple of days ago here where a guy ran down two soldiers, killing one of them with his car.
And so that's the story, I was sitting down (INAUDIBLE), I was sitting in an alcove with my headphones and listening to the interview. So I heard the first bang, thought -- frankly I thought it was book shelve falling or something. You know, it just seems so surreal. And then I pulled up the headphones and more bangs and screaming and very clearly it became evident what was going on.
That's when we sort of came around the corner and I saw, you know, guards standing with their guns drawn in the rotunda. This is sort of the entryway, the sort of grand entryway of Canada's parliament building. There is smoke in the air. You could smell gun powder and they were looking sort of down a hallway. Around the corner from me. It's called the Hall of Honor. This is where earlier this year we had a tribute to our soldiers who died in Afghanistan, right now it is just sort of a backbone of the parliament building, right down the middle of it.
And so at the end of that there's the Library of Parliament. And they moved towards that. And that's where the video that you see ticks up. And it culminated with the gunfire there, just an unbelievable amount of shots being fired towards the library. The parliament, it looks like there is someone was there.
We saw -- I saw a body -- what looks like a body slumped over, to me. You know, since them we presumed that that is the gunman that was shot. But at the time we knew none of that. And then at the -- you know, at that point they started clearing the area and that's when we got herded out.
The whole thing happened maybe three minutes. It was a very, very quick series of events. It happened just shortly after the attack over at the War Memorial which is just a short distance from here.
COOPER: Well, Josh, we'll continue to check in with you. I appreciate your reporting. And you talking to us.
Josh Wingrove, thank you.
As always, a quick reminder, set your DVR, you can watch 360 whenever you'd like. There is a lot more information we are learning throughout this hour.
In a moment, someone who saw how this all began at the war memorial as our coverage of the shootings here continues. Also, Canada's prime minister and also the mayor of this city. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I was walking along the front of the War Memorial. I was just passing just a little over here and all of a sudden just heard a shot and turned around. And there was a guy with a rifle just around on the back corner. And just pow, pow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: And that's where this began, just before 10:00 a.m., more than 10 hours ago just a few blocks from here, a couple of blocks in that direction at the National War Memorial where a soldier was killed. And that's when the mayhem began. And it just continued from there.
Moments ago, Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper, spoke to the nation. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN HARPER, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: This week's events are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to the types of terrorist attacks we have seen elsewhere around the world.
We are also reminded that attacks on our security personnel and on our institutions of governments are by their very nature attacks on our country, on our values, on our society, on us Canadians as a free and democratic people who embrace human dignity for all.
But let there be no misunderstanding. We will not be intimidated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: That was the Canadian prime minister just moments ago.
Scott Walsh was at the War Memorial when the shooting began. He joins us now by phone.
Scott, what was the first indication you got that something had gone terribly wrong?
SCOTT WALSH, SAW SUSPECTED GUNMAN: Well, originally, I heard a single gunshot. But at that time I just figured it was the construction on the West Walk. But it was when I saw a bunch of people running and screaming actually that I clued in that there was something wrong. And then I saw the gunman running from Wellington through the East Walk and turned, and there was a woman coming with her child in a stroller.
And she crossed past at him and he stopped about five feet from her and kind of looked in her direction. And I was about -- say, about 10 feet from him behind my work truck just along the fence along Wellington. And I looked over in his direction and we were trying to get toward this woman because we were worried about the safety of her and her child. And at that point he swung his rifle in our direction and we hit the ground then.
COOPER: So he actually pointed the rifle at you?
WALSH: Yes, in our direction, in our general direction. He didn't actually raise it up. It was kind of waist level. Swung it in our direction. COOPER: So did he look at you and then just move on?
WALSH: Yes, at that point he turned around and kept going along the side of the East Walk. And from there he at gunpoint hijacked a car. He threw the driver of the car out. And made his way past East Walk. Around that loop to Center Block. And then that's the last place I saw him.
COOPER: What did he look like?
WALSH: He had long black hair. And a white scarf. I think it was like a blackish blue pattern on it and a darker jacket.
COOPER: And do you know what happened to the driver of the hijacked vehicle?
WALSH: No, at that point I had hit the ground. Actually, after I hit the ground I jumped back over the fence off parliament property. And at that point I looked to my right and I saw another man leaning up against the fence. He was wearing a somewhat similar scarf. He was really bundled up so I couldn't make out the facial hair or hair color, really even skin color.
And while everyone was actually screaming and freaking out this man was just leaning up against the fence like nothing was going on. And he looked in my direction and looked in the other direction and then took off.
COOPER: Took off, you say running or walking?
WALSH: Yes, yes, he took off running towards --
COOPER: And --
WALSH: By the parliament.
COOPER: Have you talked -- have you talked to authorities about this other person?
WALSH: I spoke briefly to authorities, yes.
COOPER: What is -- I mean, as this was all happening what was going through your mind?
WALSH: I was just worried about the people on the street that were running into parliament from Wellington, where the gunman was running right behind them. I was just concerned for their safety because I was behind coverage, so I knew I was somewhat safe. So I guess I was just worried about the other people.
COOPER: Well, Scott Walsh, I appreciate you being on to tell us what you saw. Thank you very much.
This has obviously been incredibly difficult day for everybody in the city, for all Canadians, frankly. The equivalent of attacks at Arlington Cemetery, in the halls of Congress, just minutes apart. Jim Watson, he is the mayor of the great city of Ottawa. He joins us
now.
Mr. Mayor, thank you very much for being with.
MAYOR JIM WATSON, OTTAWA: My pleasure.
COOPER: I'm sorry it's under these circumstances. What's the latest you know about the shooter?
WATSON: Well, we know that the lockdown is over now.
COOPER: It is over?
WATSON: It is over. Our police chief has confirmed that for me, and that has been pretty traumatic for the last several -- several hours because people just have not known if there was a second shooter. That was what was going around.
COOPER: So are you now convinced there is not a second shooter?
WATSON: The best knowledge I have from our chief of police it appears there's just one shooter. And that shooter is dead. But it's been a traumatic experience obviously for not only our city but the whole country. You know, Ottawa is a very safe city. We had up until today four murders all year. And very tragic that we lost a young soldier who was guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier just up the street from here and the National War monument.
COOPER: To have an attack, I mean, the soldier killed at that memorial, I mean, it really strikes at the heart of the city, of this country.
WATSON: It does, and then to have that suspect allegedly go up to Parliament Hill and if he hadn't been shot by I believe our sergeant- at-arms there could have been an even greater tragedy in our city. So it's a very sad time for the family obviously for the soldier, a young gentleman who wanted to serve his country.
And this is a relatively new program where we have Honor Guards guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, just up the street from Parliament Hill.
COOPER: How concerned are you about people who have been radicalized in Canada and -- I mean, we know this man's passport was taken away by Canadian authorities just as the man two days ago who killed the soldier with a vehicle. His passport was also taken away. How big a problem do you believe there is in the city?
WATSON: I think for too many years we, you know, thought of ourselves as immune from some of the international global terrorism. And obviously in a situation like this, we had another soldier killed two days ago in the province of Quebec.
It is worrisome. You know, we -- but at the same time we don't want to turn Parliament Hill into a fortress. You know, we pride ourselves on having a very open, accessible, approachable government in a democratic setting. But at the same time these kinds of incidents are going to happen. And we have to be prepared for them. And we have to --
COOPER: There have been calls, I think it was actually -- actually probably in 2010 to have all the security forces -- because there are multiple different agencies that guard Parliament, to actually have them unified. Do you think that's now more likely to happen?
WATSON: I think certainly it's probably going to move in that direction because there is the Senate security force, the House of Commons, and then the RCMP, they are rolled in on a police patrol the grounds, and then outside of the grounds it's the Ottawa Police.
I think our first responders, the police and the paramedics did an excellent job. I don't think there were jurisdictional turf wars, but obviously a lot of questions asked when someone with a rifle of some sort could get into the parliament buildings in the first place.
COOPER: And what is your message to the citizens in this city about the concerns about radicalization? Obviously it's going to be a topic of much discussion.
WATSON: Well, it will be. I think we have to put it in context and wait until we see all of the results of the police investigation, first and foremost, but most, pray for the family of the soldier that was killed. That should be first in our thoughts.
Secondly, just find out a little bit more exactly what happened, you know, how are these young people being indoctrinated and lured into this lifestyle. Because, you know, we, like Americans, have a very good quality of life. A lot of opportunity for people, new Canadians that come to our shores.
And you know, what is driving people to go towards this kind of evil that would go and shoot an unarmed soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in our capital city. It is a very, very sad and tragic day for our city and for our country.
COOPER: Certainly.
Mr. Mayor, appreciate your time. Thank you very much.
WATSON: My pleasure. Thank you.
COOPER: Sorry it is under these circumstances.
There is a lot more ahead, of course, tonight. We're going to be taking a look at the calls by ISIS to conduct attacks in the United States. Also in Canada, on this incredibly tense and scary day in Ottawa. The question everyone wants an answer to was, ISIS or another group, somehow connected to today's deadly attack.
All the latest information ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) * COOPER: At the scene, more than ten hours ago here in Ottawa, a lot of confusion for many hours. The breaking news at this hour, which we just learned from the mayor, the lockdowns are over in this area, on Parliament Hill. People are now slowly being allowed to leave the offices, the buildings, the rooms that they have been kept in for more than ten hours now.
After a soldier was killed just a few blocks from where we're standing the National War Memorial, a gunman, minutes later opened fire inside the parliament building. That gunman was shot dead by the sergeant- at-arms.
Canadian officials have identified the man as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian citizen. Sources tell CNN, he was a recent convert to Islam and Susan Candiotti was reporting based on a single U.S. source that - U.S. law enforcement source that this man's passport had been confiscated by Canadian authorities earlier.
They were afraid that he was going to go travel overseas to fight for a group like ISIS or some other jihadist group. Today's attack obviously comes just two days after another man described as radicalized ran over two Canadian soldiers with his car, killing one of them. That man was also shot by law enforcement.
The question that officials have not yet been able to answer and there were certainly a lot of those questions was either attack directly connected to ISIS, were these attacks in some way related or some other radical organization were they involved or were these separate lone wolves.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick joins us now. So what do we know about these attacks?
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we do know about the one certainly on Monday was that police official said it was clearly link to terrorist ideology and that's the premise they are working on right now. ISIS about a month ago issued a video basically saying, look, there was a call to arms for these lone wolves.
They said if you don't have an IED, if you don't have a bullet, well, then find a rock, find a knife, use a car in a hit-and-run, do whatever you can to try to wage war against the non-Muslims.
COOPER: It doesn't necessarily mean that the man two days ago had actually direct contact with ISIS. He could have just watched the video and decided I'm going to take up the call?
FEYERICK: Exactly right because he was self-radicalized. So last Friday, Canada actually raised its threat level from low to medium because of what they call the increased chatter of extremist groups and that was one of the reasons they ratcheted up a little bit. So it is not that they haven't been expecting it. As a matter of fact, both of these men were on radar.
COOPER: Well, in fact, Canadian authorities have been talking to the man from two days ago, who ended up being shot and killed. They had confiscated his passport. He had apparently attempted to actually go overseas and fight.
FEYERICK: And that is the interesting thing is authorities have known about both of these men. Both of them wanted to go to fight overseas. One was actually at the airport when he had his passport confiscated. That was Martin Ruleau. He is that one who hit that soldier with his car killing him, injuring another.
They questioned him and interrogated him. The problem is that authorities couldn't detain him or hold him because there was no evidence, no proof that he actually planned to commit a crime here, in Canada.
So what they were doing is they were watching him. They were keeping an eye on him. If this man, the same criteria, in fact his passport was confiscated that means the authorities would have watched him, as well, but the problem is they just don't have enough resources.
COOPER: We don't know at this point whether there was any connection between these two men or whether the incident two days ago motivated this man today to act the way he did.
FEYERICK: That is right, people may say well, this is a copycat crime. They saw him and realized that he could do something on his own. That is really what they're looking at, to see whether in fact these are guys just acting independently.
Whether there was some network that they were all on, all talking together. Martin Ruleau, the driver of that car who is also shot dead, you know, he was on Facebook. He was on Twitter.
He was very active so you have to believe that authorities are looking at every single contact he had to see whether there is a more extensive network -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Deborah Feyerick, appreciate that. Still a lot to learn, again, this unfolded on a day in parliament where members from all parties were caucusing. This is what they saw. Take a look.
(VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: CBC television producer, Chris Goldrick, joins me now. You were an eyewitness, where were you when it all began?
CHRIS GOLDRICK, PRODUCER, CBC TELEVISION: Well, Anderson, we were in the newsroom, which is about a block from the war memorial. And you know, obviously, when we heard about what was unfolding I was dispatched or ran to the scene, got there, sort of a couple of minutes after the shooter had fled. And you know --
COOPER: At the war memorial?
GOLDRICK: At the war memorial, absolutely. Obviously, I witnessed a very chilling scene with a civilian woman along with some police officers, but the civilian woman was taking the lead and performing CPR on the soldier.
COOPER: She's giving mouth-to-mouth CPR --
GOLDRICK: Mouth-to-mouth CPR as the soldier lay on the ground.
COOPER: And I mean, it seems like he was shot multiple times. It just -- is a horrific incident. Did you see how many people were responding at that point because at that point the government had already left?
GOLDRICK: Yes, at that point, there was not many people there and after talking to witnesses, stunned was the word that people were using. People were standing there. It is an area where there is a lot of tourists. That is really mainly the people who were there.
You can imagine the tourists are taking pictures and all of a sudden a gunman runs up and shoots a soldier. And one of the descriptions was the soldier sort of made eye contact with the gunman as he walked towards him, didn't flinch, and the gunman raise the rifle and shot him in the chest.
You know, those guys are up there for ceremonial reasons, standing at attention, and you know, they are not supposed to move because I have seen people come up and take pictures of them. They're not supposed to move.
COOPER: There was another soldier on duty who went for cover when the shots rang out. I mean, we've also seen today so many people heroically acting. I mean, security personnel inside the parliament building, the sergeant-at-arms, who ultimately shot the shooter, and this woman who, I don't know if she was a nurse or trained, but I mean, she was performing CPR.
GOLDRICK: She was, and we have heard now that she was a nurse who was just passing by, but you're absolutely right. It has been a day of remarkable sort of response from a lot of people, you know, as you mentioned, the sergeant-at-arms on Parliament Hill, who actually ended up -- the gunman got down what is called the Hall of Honor towards the parliamentary library.
And he was in the area where there were a lot of targets for lack of a better word and the sergeant-at-arms took him out there. So it was a case where a lot of people did the right thing quickly.
COOPER: What kind of impact do you think this will have on the city, on Canada?
GOLDRICK: Well, you know, we pride ourselves being a society that is open. You know, Parliament Hill, after September 11, certainly, security was certainly stepped up. It was still quite remarkable and that you could come and go. You know, there were security checks, but nothing like in Washington.
And unfortunately, I think it is going to change and I don't think that it is something that is for the better. You know, it is a way that our democracy is going to be tarnished by this incident. I hope not, but it's something that worries me.
COOPER: Chris Goldrick of the CBC. I appreciate you being with us. Thank you so much. It has been a long day for you.
When we come back, we'll talk to a member of parliament about what they witnessed. There was a lot more to learn what it was like inside the parliament during the shooting and aftermath, tense hours, lots of uncertainty. Again, I'll speak with that Member of Parliament coming up in just a moment.
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COOPER: A lot of confusion throughout the day. The mayor earlier said that a lockdown is over. We understand the lockdown is over in some buildings. Slowly people are being let out. That's the latest information we have.
The mayor seemed to indicate it was completely over. It seems like it's happening in stages. Again, kind of an orderly way, letting people out of the building, where they had been held now for more than 10 hours.
Joining me now on the phone is a Member of Parliament, David McGuinty. I appreciate you being with us. I understand when you earlier this morning, you realized you noticed something was amiss. What was the first indication you got that something was unusual?
DAVID MCGUINTY, CANADIAN PARLIAMENT (via telephone): Anderson, I was driving up to Parliament Hill to attend our weekly caucus meeting, which happens every Wednesday. Our parties split into different rooms. So on the way up, I was riding on the main street in front of the Parliament Hill in the area called Wellington Street.
And I came up in the right-hand lane, on a car, which was stopped. Completely empty and it blocked the lane. So I looked at it very carefully and as I went around it, I noticed that the car was empty.
I think the windows were down. There was no one around. The flashers were not lit. It is not like someone was stranded. The hood was not opened. And I noticed, as well, there were no license plates on the car. So I was very struck by this and in fact quite worried.
COOPER: And I understand you -- that clearly was the gunman's vehicle, from what I understand. I understand you saw Royal Canadian Mounted Police actually following the gunman? Where were they following them? Was this after the shooting at the war memorial?
MCGUINTY: It was after the shooting, as I understand the timing of it. As I continued down Wellington Street, I was immediately maybe 3 seconds later cut off by two RCMP vehicles that were really traveling quickly with sirens blazing and so on.
And they whipped around the corner and through the security check at the bottom of the hill of the parliament area and then raced up the hill to I guess attend to this crisis. And I had never seen anything in my ten years in parliament of this kind so it was a very, very worrisome scene.
COOPER: It is incredibly fortunate that the sergeant-at-arms was able to shoot this gunman when he did. I mean, there were a lot of people who were there to caucus. It could have been -- it could have been much, much worse.
MCGUINTY: It could have been, I don't know what -- obviously this person was thinking or even if they knew where they were going. But we were very fortunate that Kevin Vickers, our sergeant-at-arms was there. He could have been upstairs in the cafeteria having a cup of coffee or who knows at a dental appointment on a caucus Wednesday morning.
But we're very fortunate and very lucky indeed that Kevin was there and had the training and the background. He is a former RCMP officer to take the action that he did. I think he spared Canadians an awful lot more of potential grief and bloodshed.
COOPER: How concerned are you about radicalization of some citizens in this country?
MCGUINTY: I think all the Members of Parliament and all Canadians are asking questions about how this and this come to be and why this is happening and how much it is happening. It is obviously a difficult moment for Canadians.
I'm a member of parliament that represents the district right here in the capital. So for me, this is intensely personal because this is our city. Many of my constituents, tens of thousands of them have been under lockdown in the area downtown since this morning.
So I think a lot of questions will be asked and many questions have just got to be answered.
COOPER: David McGuinty, I appreciate your time today. I know it has been an extraordinarily difficult day. Thank you for talking to us.
There is breaking news at this hour. We are now learning the alleged shooter, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, before he converted to Islam, was Michael Joseph Hall. That was the name he apparently was born with. That's according to multiple American officials, Michael Joseph Hall.
Just ahead, the man who has been held as a hero, you just heard a Member of Parliament, Mr. McGuinty talking about him. The sergeant- at-arms, Kevin Vickers, credited with shooting the gunman. I'm going to speak with Vicker's brother about the amazing act of heroism today. We'll be right back.
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COOPER: Well, obviously, it has been a day of mourning for the loss of the life of the soldier who was killed at the National War Memorial just a few blocks from where I'm standing. Also a security officer was shot in Parliament Hill, shot and wounded but many people are also saying it could have been much worse.
You just heard that from a parliament member, Mr. McGuinty, and many are calling the sergeant-at-arms, Kevin Vickers, a hero. Several parliament members say that Vickers is the one who took down the attacker, shot and killed him, shooting the gunman before he could do anymore harm.
Vickers is a 29-year-old veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was the director of Security Operations for the House of Commons before being appointed sergeant-at-arms. His brother, John Vickers joins me now.
John, thanks so much for being us. I understand you first heard that your brother shot and killed this gunman while watching television this morning. What was your reaction?
JOHN VICKERS, SERGEANT-AT-ARMS KEVIN VICKERS' BROTHER: Well, you know from a family perspective just a lot of concern to hear that gunfire and then hear my brother's name mentioned over and over again. Certainly, was just real concerned about his wellbeing. And as the day progressed was an extraordinary relief to know that he was OK. And that at the same time, very, very proud of what he had to do today.
COOPER: Have you been able to talk to him and he is doing OK?
VICKERS: I talked to another brother of mine who is a school teacher up in the Northwest Territories. And he had texted him today simply saying are you OK? And my brother was able to get back to him and let he know he was OK.
And I also understand he was talking to my mom out in Atlantic Canada and let her know that he was OK. So just a real extraordinary relief when you heard those gunshots and know that your brother was in the middle of all of that. It was a very surreal experience. And horror, and as I say, subsequently followed by a lot of relief.
COOPER: And in his career, as a -- with the Canadian Mounted Police, did he at any point ever have to use his weapon?
VICKERS: In 28 years, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, he had not from what I understood used his weapon in exchange of gunfire. And to think that as sergeant-at-arms for the nation, and parliament of all places to have to be involved in something like that as I say is quite surreal.
COOPER: John, what kind of impact do you think that this is going to have on this city, on this country?
VICKERS: Well, you know, of course, this sort of thing is very, very rare in this country. However, in the face of terror and this nation has ability to stand tall and proud and we'll -- certainly never allow those who commit such horrendous acts to go unpunished.
And we have a lot of resiliency. Canada has had a long history of protecting interests. Not just at home but around the world. And as I say this certainly will not be preventing the country from moving forward and tackling whatever challenges we have head on.
COOPER: A lot of pride here in Canada and certainly a lot of pride in your brother. John Vickers, thank you so much. We'll be right back with all the latest information. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Welcome back. We're live in Ottawa. We just got an update from police in Ottawa. The safety perimeter in the downtown area has now been lifted say the police. They said there is no longer a threat to public safety in the area. We do have a number of other stories we're covering. Randi Kaye has a 360 Bulletin -- Randi.
RANDI KAYE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, the official autopsy of Michael Brown shows he suffered six gunshot entrance wounds including a shot in the hand in close range. That's according to the "St. Louis Post Dispatch." The paper is also reporting that a toxicology report shows Brown had been using marijuana.
NBC cameraman, Ashoka Mukpo, was discharged from the Nebraska Medical Center where he was treated for Ebola. He said he owes the hospital staff a debt he can never repay.
Meanwhile the two nurses who were infected while caring for Thomas Duncan are now getting better. This newly released photograph shows Amber Vinson at her home at Emory University Hospital. Today, she was declared Ebola-free.
And Nurse Nina Pham's dog is under quarantine in Dallas and today officials said Bentley has tested negative for Ebola. He will be tested again before the quarantine ends around November 1st.
COOPER: All right, Randi, thanks very much. We're going to gather more information. Don Lemon will be on with CNN tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern. I'll be back live for another edition of 360 at 11 p.m. Eastern with all the latest from here on the ground in Ottawa. But starting right now Mike Rowe's "SOMEBODY'S GOT TO DO IT."
I'll also be bringing new updates throughout Mike's show over the course of the next hour.
