Ottawa Shooting Prompts Security Review

Authorities Examine How Gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau Could Kill Soldier, Then Enter Parliament Nearby

The shooting spree that left a Canadian soldier dead and ended only after an armed man was killed after penetrating Canada’s Parliament building is prompting a review of the country’s security and intelligence protocols.

Canadians have long prized the relative openness and accessibility of their government institutions. But now questions are being raised about how the gunman, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, was able to enter the main Parliament building and fire his gun after killing a soldier at the nearby National War Memorial.

Surveillance video released Thursday by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the country’s national police force, shows a vehicle pulling up by the east entrance of Parliament Hill, after which a man carrying a rifle steps out and runs onto the grounds. Bystanders are seen recoiling and running away.

The armed man then approaches a chauffeured sedan, takes control of the vehicle after the driver flees, and drives to the main entrance of the Parliament buildings, which he enters after a confrontation with security personnel that the RCMP said involved gunfire.

The Speaker of Canada’s House of Commons, Andrew Scheer, said on Thursday that he had requested “thorough reports” on Wednesday’s breach of Parliament’s security and a review of screening protocols.

“I will be ordering a comprehensive review of all actions that were taken yesterday—examining our security systems and procedures, identifying what worked, and making improvements where necessary. Members will ask—indeed Canadians will ask—how this came to occur and what specifically will be done to prevent future occurrences,” he said.

The attack is “a defining moment of how we contemplate our security posture moving forward,” said David Hyde, a Toronto-based security and risk management expert.

More From The Wall Street Journal (subscription required):