SHOOTER: Michael Zehaf-Bibeau believed the devil was after him [IG]

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau shot and killed Corporal Nathan Cirillo as he stood guard by a war memorial before launching his assault on the Canadian capital.

The 32-year-old recently had his passport confiscated to prevent him travelling to the Middle East and joining the Islamic State.

Family friend Dave Bathurst admitted Zehaf-Bibeau had shown him a disturbing side.

"We were having a conversation in a kitchen, and I don't know how he worded it – he said the devil is after him," he told CBC.

RESPONSE: The shooting led to a massive police operation and a lockdown in Ottawa [EPA]

"I think he must have been mentally ill."

Meanwhile the Ottawa gunman's mother has said she is crying for her son's victims and not him.

Susan Bibeau admitted she did not know what to say to those caught in the attack.

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

TRIBUTE: Nathan Cirillo was shot and killed during the attack [IG]

Two other people were injured in the attack which led to downtown Ottawa being placed on lockdown.

Zehaf-Bibeau was jailed for two years in 2003 for robbery and weapons possession.

He also had a history of drug abuse.

The 32-year-old was privately-educated and raised by his mother, a civil servant with Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board, and his adoptive father, Libyan businessman Bulgasem Zehaf.

The Queen has said she is "shocked and saddened" by the shootings while Barack Obama described the attack as "outrageous".

Speaking from the White House he said: "We have to remain vigilant.

"It's very important, I think, for us to recognise that when it comes to dealing with terrorist activity, that Canada and the United States (have) to be entirely in sync."

David Cameron said he is "appalled" by the events in Ottawa and has offered his support to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.