A parliamentary official who shot dead the gunman who attacked the Canadian parliament yesterday was given a rousing standing ovation today as grateful MPs hailed him a hero.
Kevin Vickers, a former police officer who serves as the parliamentary Sergeant-at-Arms, was alerted after the gunman entered the main parliamentary building after shooting dead an army reservist outside.
Video footage captured the 58-year-old following Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Muslim convert, into the grand Hall of Honour after first grabbing a 9mm handgun. Throwing himself to the ground to present less of a target, he fires three shots that kill the gunman.
Canadian newspapers said that Mr Vickers had served 29 years in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police before being appointed Sergeant-at-Arms eight years ago but had never