THE Bishop of Ottawa, the Rt Revd John H. Chapman, has urged
Canadians to pray for everyone caught up in the shooting around the
Parliament Buildings last week.
Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a 24- year-old reservist, was shot
while he stood guard outside the national war memorial, which is
only a short distance from the Parliament building, in the Canadian
capital, Ottawa. Corporal Cirillo was given emergency resuscitation
on the roadside and taken to hospital, but later died of his
wounds. Later, police were engaged in a shootout inside the
Parliament. The suspect, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, was eventually shot
and killed.
In a statement last week, Bishop Chapman said that the dramatic
events were "just blocks from our synod office". "Like all
Canadians, we are following today's news from Parliament Hill with
shock and trepidation," he said. "[Pray] for all those at the
centre of this situation and for a return to calm in our homes,
hearts, and streets."
All staff in offices near the Parliament Buildings were told to
stay put, and advised to stay away from the windows and doors,
while police searched for the suspect. Many MPs and the Prime
Minister, Stephen Harper, were inside the Parliament, and some
barricaded themselves inside meeting rooms while police officers
went from door to door, searching for the suspect.
No one else was injured, although as many as 30 shots were heard
inside the building. The parliamentary Sergeant-at-Arms, Kevin
Vickers, is reported to have shot Mr Zehaf-Bibeau.
The killing of Corporal Cirillo came two days after another
soldier, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, died after being hit by a
car driven by a Canadian convert to Islam, Martin Couture-Rouleau.
He was known to the security services, who had feared that he had
become radicalised into jihadism online.
Mr Couture-Rouleau was later shot dead by police in Montreal,
and another soldier, who was driven into during the same incident,
is recovering in hospital.
In a statement last week, the Primate of the Anglican Church in
Canada, the Most Revd Fred Hiltz, asked that people pray for "these
men, for their loved ones stricken with grief, and for the Canadian
Armed Forces chaplains who are ministering to them".
"Now is a moment when the refrain of our national anthem, 'O
Canada, we stand on guard for thee', must echo in every heart," he
said. He also urged prayers for the safety of MPs and everyone else
in public service, as well as "peace and reconciliation among all
peoples".
The President of the Lutheran Church in Canada, the Revd Dr
Robert Bugbee, said that he was asking God to "guide the
authorities as they seek additional suspects". He said: "If the
threat of terrorism rears its head in Canada, we must turn to God
in prayer."