Introduction:
The 2014 Ottawa shooting near the Parliament of Canada resulted in the death of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, who was a Canadian soldier, and the injury of three others. The gunman, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian citizen, was later shot dead by the police. The incident left a lot of questions unanswered: What were the motives of Michael Zehaf-Bibeau? Why did he target the Parliament of Canada? What was his background that could have led him to commit such a heinous act? In this blog post, we will try to unveil the motives and background of Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.

1. Childhood and Family Background:

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1982 to a Canadian mother and a Libyan father. He grew up in Ottawa and Montreal. According to his mother, Susan Bibeau, he had a troubled childhood and had battled mental illness since he was a teenager. His parents separated when he was young, and he had very little contact with his father. Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was the eldest of three siblings.

2. Religious Beliefs:

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau converted to Islam in 2004, and according to his mother, his radicalization started after his conversion. In recent years, he had become more and more religious, and his views became more extremist. He reportedly started attending the Masjid al-Salaam mosque in Ottawa, where he would often express his divisive views.

3. Criminal Record:

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau had a criminal record that dated back to 2001. He had been charged with various offenses, including drug possession, theft, and robbery. He was also known to have used several aliases in the past.

4. Immigration Status:

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau’s father was Libyan, and he had been living in Canada as a refugee for several years. Michael, on the other hand, was born in Canada and was a Canadian citizen, but he had a history of traveling abroad. He had recently spent time in Libya, where he allegedly tried to join a jihadist group.

5. Political Views:

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was reportedly influenced by extremist views and was opposed to Western governments’ involvement in the Middle East. He had also expressed his support for jihadist groups, including ISIS.

6. Mental Health Issues:

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau had a history of mental health issues and had been diagnosed with various disorders, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. According to his mother, he had stopped taking his medication before the attack.

7. Attack on Parliament of Canada:

On October 22, 2014, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau attacked the Parliament of Canada, where he fatally shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo, who was guarding the National War Memorial before proceeding to the Parliament building. He was later shot dead by the police inside the Parliament.

8. Radicalization:

The incident involving Michael Zehaf-Bibeau has been linked to radicals’ growing presence in Canada. According to various reports, there has been an increase in the number of young Canadians who are becoming radicalized and are being drawn to extremist groups.

Conclusion:
The motives behind the Ottawa shooting may never be fully understood, but a range of factors, including Michael Zehaf-Bibeau’s political views, religious beliefs, mental health issues, and criminal record, could have contributed to his actions. It is critical to recognize the various factors that contribute to radicalization and extremism and take steps to address them.

FAQs:

Q. What was Michael Zehaf-Bibeau’s motive?
A. The motives behind the Ottawa shooting may never be fully understood, but a range of factors, including Michael Zehaf-Bibeau’s political views, religious beliefs, mental health issues, and criminal record, could have contributed to his actions.

Q. What was Michael Zehaf-Bibeau’s background?
A. Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1982 to a Canadian mother and a Libyan father. He had a troubled childhood, converted to Islam in 2004, had a criminal record dating back to 2001, and had a history of mental illness.

Q. Why did Michael Zehaf-Bibeau attack the Parliament of Canada?
A. It is unclear why Michael Zehaf-Bibeau attacked the Parliament of Canada. However, he was opposed to Western governments’ involvement in the Middle East and had expressed support for jihadist groups.

Q. What steps can be taken to address radicalization and extremism?
A. Some steps that can be taken to address radicalization and extremism include increasing education about the dangers of radicalization, offering mental health services, and promoting positive social integration.

Q. Was Michael Zehaf-Bibeau an immigrant?
A. Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was born in Canada and was a Canadian citizen, but his father was Libyan and had been living in Canada as a refugee for several years.