Canada Police Hold 2, Seek Motive in Terror Attack at Mosque

Coulombe said those killed were between ages 35 and 70.

Canadian police say Alexandre Bissonnette is the sole suspect in the deadly rampage that cut short their lives.

Police declined to give details of possible motives for the attack but said they were confident there were no other suspects.

Six people were killed and at least 19 others injured in a mass shooting Sunday night during evening prayers at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec.

Trudeau said in a statement that “we condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge”. “Last night’s frightful crime against the Muslim community was an act of terror committed against Canada and against all Canadians”, he said.

“Xenophobia, racism and exclusion are present here”, Premier Philippe Couillard said at a news conference. “We will fight all hatred and bias”, he wrote on Twitter.

Like France, Quebec has struggled at times to reconcile its secular identity with a rising Muslim population, many of them from North Africa.

In June 2016, a pig’s head was left on the doorstep of the same Quebec City mosque. Islam prohibits eating pork.

“The Muslim community was the target of this murderous attack”, Mr Couillard said. “It’s a awful reminder of why we must remain vigilant and why the President is taking steps to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to our nation’s safety and security”, Spicer said at this afternoon’s briefing when speaking of the Quebec City attack.

“It’s the spirit of peace and openness of the people of Quebec that the terrorists wanted to hit”, Hollande said.

“It is heartbreaking to see such malice directed at innocent people in their time of prayer”, Swann said.

Yangui added that up to 100 people usually gather in the mosque for evening prayers.

Abdelkrim Hassen, who had three children, was a government employee.

Local imam Karim Elabed described Soufiane as an important member of the community and a longtime Quebec City resident who helped guide newcomers to the provincial capital. “Diversity is our strength”. Notably, Canada has resettled 39,000 Syrian refugees since Trudeau was elected in 2015. The NYPD will protect you. “All New Yorkers should be vigilant”.

A suspect in a shooting that killed six and wounded 17 at a Quebec mosque has been charged, according to the Associated Press. “We must continue together to build an open welcoming and peaceful society”. And until the investigation is complete, one can not know for certain what the motives here were. Deschamps said he has received death threats after starting a refugee support group on Facebook and people have posted his address online.

“No matter how long I’ve been in this business, there are some things that shake you to the core and you can never understand”, he said.

“As Canadian Muslims, we know how devastating it is to be blamed for the actions of a few”, the statement continued.

This has been a remarkable thing for Hamilton – the growth of the Muslim community.