Garibashvili expresses condolences after fatal Ottawa shooting

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is offering his "heartfelt condolences” to the family of the soldier shot dead in a terrorist attack on Wednesday, as well as other victims and their families, the Canadian people and the government.

The Georgian leader expressed his sadness over the tragic death of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, 24, who was shot while on standing on duty at Ottawa’s National War Memorial. The shooting was part of a larger attack on the National Parliament of the Canada on October 22.

Garibashvili also paid tribute to the tragic death of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, who was killed in a hit-and-run in an ISIL-inspired terrorist attack in Quebec, Canada, on October 20.

"Those tragedies once again underline the magnitude of the threat posed by terrorism to all of us. Therefore, concerted efforts by the entire international community are of decisive importance to successfully address this scourge,” Garibashvili said.

In Wednesday’s attack Corporal Cirillo was standing on duty at Ottawa’s National War Memorial. A lone gunman, named in other media as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, opened fire on the soldier before running towards the Parliament building. This forced the central city area to go into lock-down.

The offender made his way into the Parliament building and became engaged in a gun battle and was eventually shot by a member of Parliament’s security team.

Three other people were taken to hospital following the central city shooting rampage. They were treated in hospital and released later that evening.