On the morning of October 22, 2014, a chilling scene unfolds at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian soldier on ceremonial duty, is fatally shot at the National War Memorial. The assailant, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, then storms the Centre Block parliament building, where Canadian MPs are gathered for caucus meetings.
As panic spreads, Zehaf-Bibeau carjacks a vehicle and breaches the building. In the halls of Parliament, chaos erupts as shots ring out. The attack ends in a hail of bullets, with Zehaf-Bibeau shot dead by security forces. The city is thrust into lockdown as police scour the area for possible accomplices, a tense search that reveals no additional threats.
In the aftermath, Canada grapples with its security measures. The RCMP classifies the attack as a terrorist act, sparking national and international concern. Security across Canada tightens, and the attack prompts discussions on the balance between safety and civil liberties, leaving a lasting impact on the nation’s psyche.
