Mom of Canada shooter: I cry for victims, not my son

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — The mother of the man accused of killing a soldier at Ottawa's war memorial then storming Parliament before being shot dead says she is crying for the victims of the shooting, not her son.

In a brief and tear-filled telephone interview with The Associated Press today, Susan Bibeau said she did not know what to say to those hurt in the attack.

"Can you ever explain something like this?" she said. "We are sorry."

Investigators offered little information about the gunman in Ottawa, identified as 32-year-old petty criminal Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.

Canadian police conceded that Zehaf-Bibeau was the lone gunman, the second attack in three days in what the prime minister described as terrorism.

Bibeau she was devastated for the victims of the attack.

"If I'm crying it's for the people," she said, struggling to hold back tears. "Not for my son."

Bideau and her husband had earlier sent the AP a lengthy email expressing horror and sadness at what happened.

"I am mad at my son," the email said, explaining that he seemed lost "and did not fit in."