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2 Suspects Identified in Quebec Mosque Shooting That Killed 6 Suspect Is Held in Quebec Mosque Shooting That Killed 6
(35 minutes later)
QUEBEC CITY — Two young men were in custody on Monday after a mass shooting in a mosque in Quebec City that killed six men and wounded eight others, Canadian officials said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the episode a “terrorist attack on Muslims.” QUEBEC CITY — A man was in custody on Monday after a mass shooting in a mosque in Quebec City that killed six men and wounded eight others, Canadian officials said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the episode a “terrorist attack on Muslims.”
The attack, on Sunday evening, shook Canada, where mass shootings are uncommon. The country has also become known as a beacon for refugees fleeing warfare and terrorism in Muslim-majority nations.The attack, on Sunday evening, shook Canada, where mass shootings are uncommon. The country has also become known as a beacon for refugees fleeing warfare and terrorism in Muslim-majority nations.
Mr. Trudeau assailed what he called “this terrorist attack on Muslims in a center of worship and refuge.”Mr. Trudeau assailed what he called “this terrorist attack on Muslims in a center of worship and refuge.”
“It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence,” he said in a statement early Monday. “Diversity is our strength, and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear.”“It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence,” he said in a statement early Monday. “Diversity is our strength, and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear.”
Muslim leaders from Quebec joined the province’s premier, Philippe Couillard, at a news conference on Monday morning. “We’re all Quebecers,” Mr. Couillard said. “All of us. Each one of us. We are a large nation, a large people, but we’re even more united today.” Muslim leaders from Quebec joined the province’s premier, Philippe Couillard, at a news conference on Monday morning. “We’re all Quebecers,” Mr. Couillard said. “All of us. Each one of us. We are a large nation, a large people, but we’re even more united today.”t
President Trump called Mr. Trudeau to express support. Pope Francis offered his condolences to Cardinal Gérald Cyprien LaCroix, the archbishop of Quebec, who was visiting Rome on Monday. Messages of solidarity poured in from Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York and a 7-year-old girl who recently fled Syria, among others.President Trump called Mr. Trudeau to express support. Pope Francis offered his condolences to Cardinal Gérald Cyprien LaCroix, the archbishop of Quebec, who was visiting Rome on Monday. Messages of solidarity poured in from Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York and a 7-year-old girl who recently fled Syria, among others.
Of the five people still hospitalized on Monday, three were due to be released and two were being treated for serious injuries, according to Quebec City University Hospital.Of the five people still hospitalized on Monday, three were due to be released and two were being treated for serious injuries, according to Quebec City University Hospital.
The six men killed ranged in age from 39 to 60, said Inspector Martin Plante of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.The six men killed ranged in age from 39 to 60, said Inspector Martin Plante of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Court officials in Quebec identified the two suspects as Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, and Mohamed el Khadir, who was said to be in his late 20s or early 30s. Numerous news accounts said the two men might have attended Laval University in Quebec. The authorities declined to provide details about the suspects, but expressed confidence that no other suspects were at large. The authorities initially said that there were two suspects, but Quebec’s provincial police agency said on Monday that only one man was a suspect and that another man — also arrested on Sunday evening — was a witness. Court officials in Quebec identified the two men arrested as Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, and Mohamed el Khadir, who was said to be in his late 20s or early 30s. It was not immediately clear which man was the suspect and which was the witness.
“For the moment, nothing indicates to us that there was anybody else involved,” said Chief Inspector André Goulet of Quebec’s provincial police agency.“For the moment, nothing indicates to us that there was anybody else involved,” said Chief Inspector André Goulet of Quebec’s provincial police agency.
The authorities did provide a timeline of their response to the attack.The authorities did provide a timeline of their response to the attack.
At 7:50 p.m. on Sunday, the police received calls from the mosque reporting that shots had been fired. They quickly arrived, and realized that were there were numerous victims. All available police officers in Quebec City, along with canine units, were sent in, and a perimeter was set up around the site. One suspect was arrested at the scene.At 7:50 p.m. on Sunday, the police received calls from the mosque reporting that shots had been fired. They quickly arrived, and realized that were there were numerous victims. All available police officers in Quebec City, along with canine units, were sent in, and a perimeter was set up around the site. One suspect was arrested at the scene.
A short while later, at 8:10 p.m., a man called 911 asking to speak with investigators; officers arrived at an access road near the Île d’Orléans Bridge and arrested him.A short while later, at 8:10 p.m., a man called 911 asking to speak with investigators; officers arrived at an access road near the Île d’Orléans Bridge and arrested him.
At 10 p.m., the Royal Canadian Mounted Police set up a national security task force, and security was increased at other mosques in the city and on the Laval University campus.At 10 p.m., the Royal Canadian Mounted Police set up a national security task force, and security was increased at other mosques in the city and on the Laval University campus.
On Twitter, Martin Coiteux, the provincial minister of public safety, said that “the police systems for dealing with terrorist acts have been activated” after the shooting. “Ensuring the safety of the population is our priority,” he wrote.On Twitter, Martin Coiteux, the provincial minister of public safety, said that “the police systems for dealing with terrorist acts have been activated” after the shooting. “Ensuring the safety of the population is our priority,” he wrote.
Last June, a pig’s head was left at the door of the mosque in the middle of Ramadan — an episode that the police on Monday said that they had “thoroughly investigated.” Practicing Muslims regard pork as unclean and do not eat it.Last June, a pig’s head was left at the door of the mosque in the middle of Ramadan — an episode that the police on Monday said that they had “thoroughly investigated.” Practicing Muslims regard pork as unclean and do not eat it.
The president of the mosque, Mohamed Yangui, was interviewed on Ici RDI, a French Canadian broadcaster. He was not at the mosque during the shooting but said that people who were present had told him that one gunman had reloaded his weapon several times.The president of the mosque, Mohamed Yangui, was interviewed on Ici RDI, a French Canadian broadcaster. He was not at the mosque during the shooting but said that people who were present had told him that one gunman had reloaded his weapon several times.
He said he had been told by witnesses that the gunmen had entered on the ground floor and had gone to the second floor where women pray, but he did not know whether any women were in the mosque at the time.
The attack came after Mr. Trudeau said that Canada stood ready to continue welcoming refugees from terrorism and war and as President Trump’s executive order on immigration stranded people around the world and provoked condemnation that it was directed at Muslims.The attack came after Mr. Trudeau said that Canada stood ready to continue welcoming refugees from terrorism and war and as President Trump’s executive order on immigration stranded people around the world and provoked condemnation that it was directed at Muslims.
In the wake of the Quebec shooting, the New York City police stepped up protection of mosques, Mr. de Blasio said on Twitter.In the wake of the Quebec shooting, the New York City police stepped up protection of mosques, Mr. de Blasio said on Twitter.
About 765,000 people live in the Quebec City, and 6,760 of them identified themselves as Muslims during the last national census.About 765,000 people live in the Quebec City, and 6,760 of them identified themselves as Muslims during the last national census.
Mr. Trudeau posted a message on Twitter on Saturday welcoming refugees to Canada and included a photograph of himself with a child under the hashtag #WelcomeToCanada. Since Mr. Trudeau took office in late 2015 the country has admitted nearly 40,000 refugees, many of them fleeing the war in Syria.Mr. Trudeau posted a message on Twitter on Saturday welcoming refugees to Canada and included a photograph of himself with a child under the hashtag #WelcomeToCanada. Since Mr. Trudeau took office in late 2015 the country has admitted nearly 40,000 refugees, many of them fleeing the war in Syria.
Canada’s warm embrace of Syrian refugees has won the country accolades at home and abroad, but is not without its domestic opponents. A survey in Ontario last summer found that while there was widespread support for accepting the refugees, only a third of respondents had a positive impression of Islam, and more than half felt that its mainstream doctrines promoted violence.Canada’s warm embrace of Syrian refugees has won the country accolades at home and abroad, but is not without its domestic opponents. A survey in Ontario last summer found that while there was widespread support for accepting the refugees, only a third of respondents had a positive impression of Islam, and more than half felt that its mainstream doctrines promoted violence.
Anti-Muslim episodes have been on the rise in Canada, with several minor incidents reported in Quebec during the past year.Anti-Muslim episodes have been on the rise in Canada, with several minor incidents reported in Quebec during the past year.
A Montreal mosque and a Sept-Îles Muslim community center were slightly damaged in separate arson attempts in December, and the head of the Association of Muslims and Arabs for a Secular Quebec received online death threats the month before.A Montreal mosque and a Sept-Îles Muslim community center were slightly damaged in separate arson attempts in December, and the head of the Association of Muslims and Arabs for a Secular Quebec received online death threats the month before.
The increasing tension led a member of Parliament, Iqra Khalid, to put forward a motion in the national House of Commons in December calling on the government to condemn Islamophobia and request a study on how the government could combat the trend. The motion is expected to be voted on when the House returns to session this week.The increasing tension led a member of Parliament, Iqra Khalid, to put forward a motion in the national House of Commons in December calling on the government to condemn Islamophobia and request a study on how the government could combat the trend. The motion is expected to be voted on when the House returns to session this week.
Vigils commemorating the attack victims were scheduled for Monday in Ottawa, the capital, and in Quebec City, Montreal, Trois-Rivières and Saguenay, all in Quebec Province. The government also set up an online register for people to express their condolences.Vigils commemorating the attack victims were scheduled for Monday in Ottawa, the capital, and in Quebec City, Montreal, Trois-Rivières and Saguenay, all in Quebec Province. The government also set up an online register for people to express their condolences.