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Suspect Is Held in Quebec Mosque Shooting That Killed 6 Suspect Is Held in Quebec Mosque Shooting That Killed 6
(about 1 hour later)
QUEBEC — A man was in custody on Monday after a mass shooting in a mosque in the city of Quebec that killed six men and wounded eight others, Canadian officials said. QUEBEC — A 27-year-old man was held on Monday in connection with a shooting in a mosque in Quebec City that killed six men and wounded eight others, officials said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the shooting a “terrorist attack on Muslims.” The attack, on Sunday evening, shook Canada, where mass shootings are uncommon. The country has become known as a beacon for refugees fleeing warfare and terrorism in Muslim-majority nations. The attack stunned Canada, where mass shootings are uncommon, and was condemned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “terrorist attack on Muslims.” The country has 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.” 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.”
“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 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.”
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 the leaders of France and Germany; 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 the leaders of France and Germany; Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York; and a 7-year-old girl who recently fled Syria, among others.
The man, Alexandre Bissonnette, had a history of provocative views and antisocial behavior, according to a report in the Quebec newspaper La Presse. The newspaper quoted François Deschamps, an official with a refugee advocacy organization, as saying that Mr. Bissonette had make harassing comments against members of an online chat room.
The organization, Bienvenue aux Refugiés, said in a Facebook post that Mr. Bissonnette had made remarks critical of feminists and foreigners, and that he had expressed sympathies online with the National Front, the far-right political party in France.
The article quoted classmates of Mr. Bissonette as saying that he had been bullied and taunted at school, and was known for making insulting and offensive remarks.
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 — arrested at the mosque on Sunday evening, and identified as Mohamed Belkhadir — was only a witness. Mr. Belkhadir was released on Monday, as the authorities searched a house in the Cap-Rouge section of Quebec, where Mr. Bissonnette lived
“For the moment, nothing indicates to us that there was anybody else involved,” said Chief Inspector André Goulet of Quebec’s provincial police agency.
Speaking after the news conference, which was also attended by several politicians, leaders of the mosque said that the suspect was not known to them.Speaking after the news conference, which was also attended by several politicians, leaders of the mosque said that the suspect was not known to them.
But they said the shooting had followed acts of harassment and bigotry that had led the mosque to install eight surveillance cameras. The acts ranged from hate mail to swastikas painted on its doors to a pig’s head left in front of the mosque last June.But they said the shooting had followed acts of harassment and bigotry that had led the mosque to install eight surveillance cameras. The acts ranged from hate mail to swastikas painted on its doors to a pig’s head left in front of the mosque last June.
“We’ve had to be very, very vigilant, careful for our community,” said Boufeldga Benabdallah, a co-founder of the mosque.“We’ve had to be very, very vigilant, careful for our community,” said Boufeldga Benabdallah, a co-founder of the mosque.
“Six of our brothers they were,” he said of those killed in the attack. “The prayed beside us, and they were shot in the back because they prayed.”“Six of our brothers they were,” he said of those killed in the attack. “The prayed beside us, and they were shot in the back because they prayed.”
Several of the mosque leaders said that the gunman appeared to have targeted people who were praying when he arrived.Several of the mosque leaders said that the gunman appeared to have targeted people who were praying when he arrived.
Mr. Benabdallah, however, said that Muslims in the area were surprised and comforted by the outpouring of support from the broader society.Mr. Benabdallah, however, said that Muslims in the area were surprised and comforted by the outpouring of support from the broader society.
Mr. Couillard, the premier, said such solidarity should not just be something produced during difficult times.Mr. Couillard, the premier, said such solidarity should not just be something produced during difficult times.
“It’s normal in times of crisis that everyone will speak the same voice of tolerance, integration and inclusion,” he told reporters. “The real challenge will be three weeks from now, to continue saying this.”“It’s normal in times of crisis that everyone will speak the same voice of tolerance, integration and inclusion,” he told reporters. “The real challenge will be three weeks from now, to continue saying this.”
Mr. Couillard declined to comment on the possibility that anti-Islamist remarks by Mr. Trump during the presidential campaign had played a role. But he did add: “We live in a world where people tend to divide themselves rather than unite. Our country, Canada and Quebec, has to remain a beacon of tolerance.”Mr. Couillard declined to comment on the possibility that anti-Islamist remarks by Mr. Trump during the presidential campaign had played a role. But he did add: “We live in a world where people tend to divide themselves rather than unite. Our country, Canada and Quebec, has to remain a beacon of tolerance.”
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 authorities initially said that there had been two suspects, but Quebec’s provincial police agency said on Monday that only one man was a suspect and that another man — also arrested 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. The authorities provided a timeline of their response to the attack.
It was not immediately clear which man was the suspect and which was the witness, though Reuters reported that Mr. Bissonnette was the man under suspicion. 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, and one person was arrested at the scene. 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.
“For the moment, nothing indicates to us that there was anybody else involved,” said Chief Inspector André Goulet of Quebec’s provincial police agency. Two hours later, 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.
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 the city of Quebec, along with canine units, were sent in, and a perimeter was set up around the site. One person was arrested at the scene.
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.
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.
The six men killed ranged in age from 39 to 60, said Inspector Martin Plante of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They appeared to come from several countries.The six men killed ranged in age from 39 to 60, said Inspector Martin Plante of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They appeared to come from several countries.
A woman in Tunisia, Amira Derbali, confirmed in a Facebook message that her brother Aymen Derbali had been wounded in the shooting. Mr. Derbali, 41, is a Canadian citizen and a father of three, his sister said.A woman in Tunisia, Amira Derbali, confirmed in a Facebook message that her brother Aymen Derbali had been wounded in the shooting. Mr. Derbali, 41, is a Canadian citizen and a father of three, his sister said.
Another Tunisian, Bechir Thabti, wrote a Facebook post confirming the death of his brother, who he said left behind a wife, son and daughter. “We received the news of the death of our brother Boubaker Thabti in a cowardly attack in Canada,” Mr. Thabti wrote on Facebook. “We belong to him and to him we return.” (The death was also confirmed by the political party Ennahda, of which Boubaker Thabti was a member.)Another Tunisian, Bechir Thabti, wrote a Facebook post confirming the death of his brother, who he said left behind a wife, son and daughter. “We received the news of the death of our brother Boubaker Thabti in a cowardly attack in Canada,” Mr. Thabti wrote on Facebook. “We belong to him and to him we return.” (The death was also confirmed by the political party Ennahda, of which Boubaker Thabti was a member.)
The attack came after Mr. Trudeau said that Canada stood ready to continue welcoming refugees from terrorism and war and as Mr. 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 Mr. 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.
About 765,000 people live in the city of Quebec, and 6,760 of them identified themselves as Muslims during the last national census.About 765,000 people live in the city of Quebec, 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 it 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 it 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 the city of Quebec, Montreal, Trois-Rivières and Saguenay, all in the province of Quebec. 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 the city of Quebec, Montreal, Trois-Rivières and Saguenay, all in the province of Quebec. The government also set up an online register for people to express their condolences.