Article content

A month before a soldier was shot dead at the National War Memorial, a series of security incidents prompted an internal investigation into guards’ safety, the Citizen has learned.

A sentry at the war memorial had his gun grabbed by a member of the public, and “similar incidents” with the Ceremonial Guard at Rideau Hall prompted an internal review, a probe that was in its initial stages when the Oct. 22 shooting occurred.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Gun grabbing prompted ceremonial guard security probe Back to video

Defence officials say they can’t specify what the other incidents were, but they say they were not serious. Some sentries at the memorial had reported incidents involving foul language.

In a Sept. 22 briefing, obtained through access-to-information laws, the Ceremonial Guard division reported to military colleagues it had added a fourth sentry to the War Memorial team; before that, one sentry stood watch for two colleagues who flank the memorial.

The change was due to “Behaviour of the public at the Tomb (of the Unknown Soldier) with no security or NCC (National Capital Commission) guide,” according to a presentation slide.