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Burnaby MP recounts first-hand experience of Ottawa shooting

Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian says gunfight was happening right outside his door
Peter Julian
New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian is urging local financial institutions and landlords to defer mortgages and rents for April 1 for folks who have been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Peter Julian, it was one of the most disturbing events of his life.

The Burnaby-New Westminster MP was in a caucus meeting in Parliament Hill Wednesday morning when shots rang out.

"We first heard two or three gunshots that were obviously further away and then gunshots that were right outside our room, very heavy gunfire right outside our caucus meeting," Julian told the NOW Wednesday afternoon. "A security guard came in, secured the doors, asked us to take cover, which we did. We stayed close to the ground and we watched the door and heard the gunshots and wondered how many gunmen were involved, (and) whether or not they were going to come through the door."

Julian said security staff were calm and professional, as were the MPs.

"At that point you are not thinking other than following instructions and seeing how things play out," he said. "The gunshots were taking place right there. ... There was a gunfight taking place right outside our room."

Globe and Mail video of the shooting described by Julian.

Julian described it as an anxious moment.

"You think about your loved ones, you think about your life, there's no doubt, in those moments when you're waiting to see whether or not the gunman will come in," he said.

When the gunshots stopped, security escorted Julian and the other MPs to safe rooms, where they were instructed to stay, while security swept the area. When the NOW spoke with Julian, Parliament Hill was still under lockdown, and he was still waiting in a safe room, watching the news unfold on TV.

"Now the RCMP are going room by room, ... to ensure there isn't a second shooter or some kind of accomplice," Julian said.

The shooter has been identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian in his 30s. Media reports say he fatally shot 24-year-old Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was on guard at the National War Memorial on Parliament Hill, before driving to Centre Block, the main parliamentary building, where he was shot by the House of Commons sergeant-at-arms.

"What I most bring out of this is how courageous the security guards were, who went towards the gunfire, as opposed to away," Julian said. "The gunman was mere feet away from 160 Conservative MPs and 100 NDP MPs, and if he had been able to break through to any of those rooms, we could be looking at an even greater tragedy than what we see."

Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart was safe at home in Burnaby when the shooting occurred, but he was rattled nonetheless.

"It was a very rude awakening and it was quite scary," Stewart told the NOW. "When I saw the pictures on TV and saw where the gunman was, and it was really close to the caucus rooms, as reported in the media... I was very concerned it was a larger attack, also concerned for my staff, who were in lockdown in the offices there."

Stewart said all MPs were told to shut down their local constituency offices, and his staff members were at home Wednesday afternoon.

Stewart also said security in Parliament was very tight. MPs wear special pins so they can be instantly identified, and security staff must memorize all of their faces. There are also separate entrances for MPs, the offices have secure entrances where bags are screened, and there are armed guards "all over the place," Stewart said.

Stewart expressed concern for his staff in Ottawa.

"This is quite a traumatic experience. If you are part of this, it will take a few weeks to get out of everybody's system," he said.

Stewart also worried that people are jumping to stereotypical conclusions about the shooter's identity.

"With this, you kind of need facts and proper investigation before you do any assuming," he said.

Julian said there will be a "careful evaluation" of security following the incident, but he says MPs will be back at work.

"We can't be intimidated by this," he said. "I think that's going to be a resolve that all parties in the House of Commons and all members of Parliament share."