Bias Techniques used in the Media

 Series of shootings at Parliament Hill leave 2 dead, 3 fatally injured

Tom Mulcair calls Ottawa gunman's attack a "criminal act"

Canadian Police Forces surrounding Parliament Hill, Ottawa Ontario

This past Wednesday, October 22^nd, 2014, a series of shootings occurred in and around the Canadian parliament complex. At the Canadian National War Memorial, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau fatally shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian solider on ceremonial sentry duty that morning. The motivation for the attacks remains unclear, but potential links to radical homicide and an act of terrorism remain very prevalent.

“I would put this immediately at the top of the white board back at headquarters: ‘Grass-roots jihadist activity,’ probably inspired by the Canadian government’s admission that they intend to assist in bombing ISIL targets,” says Fred Burton, a former U.S. Diplomatic Security special agent and deputy counterterrorism chief.

Earlier this October, the Canadian parliament voted to contribute war planes to the US-led international coalition, who are currently conducting aerial attacks on Islamic State group positions on fighters in Syria and the Islamic State Group –also often referred to as ISIL, for the Islamic State group, often referred to as ISIL, specifically threatened Canada. They urged its followers to target Canadian citizens in a recording released this past September. Authorities along with the government are on high alert, the main priority is to protect their fellow Canadians.

“We are very aware of the large presence of military personnel in our community, and I want them to know we are committed to their safety,” said Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordereau, who spoke at an afternoon press conference alongside his officials.

The Police responded to reports at roughly 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning that a ceremonial-duty solider had been shot while standing guard at the Canadian war memorial across the street from the main parliament. Shortly after this, security officers inside the parliament complex got into a shootout with a gunman, eventually killing him.

At this point in time, it is important that all Canadian citizens remain highly vigilant and to report anything that they see as suspicious. At this point, authorities are not stating that the safety and security of Canadians is at risk, just that it is essential for everyone to remain calm and conscious.