6 dead in shooting at Quebec City mosque, 2 men arrested
Two men were arrested after six people were killed and eight were wounded in a shooting inside a mosque during evening prayers Sunday, in what Quebec’s premier described as a “murderous act directed at a specific community.”
Thirty-nine people escaped the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec (Islamic cultural centre of Quebec) in the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood without injuries, according to Quebec provincial police Sgt. Christine Coulombe.
Coulombe said the victims range in age from 35 to 70. Some of the wounded were in critical condition.
One of the men was arrested near l’île d’Orléans, five kilometres from downtown Quebec City, following a police chase of the SUV he was driving.
Police called special technicians to where the chase ended, because they believed explosives may have been inside the SUV. Radio-Canada, CBC’s French-language service, reported a gun was found inside the vehicle.
Police are investigating whether the two men attended Laval University, a source close to the investigation told Radio-Canada. A search is underway at a home in Sainte-Foy.
Police have erected perimeters and road blocks in other areas of Quebec City by police as part of their investigation.
Premier Philippe Couillard said the shooting should be treated as an act of terrorism.
“It’s a murderous act directed at a specific community,” he said at a news conference just after 1:30 a.m. ET.
“I think the majority of citizens, not just in Quebec but elsewhere, would describe it that way.”
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard speaks to Muslim community0:17
Earlier, Couillard said, “Quebec categorically rejects this barbaric violence.” He also offered solidarity with the families of the victims.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the shooting as a “terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge.”
“Muslim-Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, cities and country,” said Trudeau in a statement.
Attack on the ground floor
Quebec City police Const. Étienne Doyon said men were mostly inside the mosque when the shooting began just before 8 p.m.
The men were praying on the ground floor of the building, while women and children were upstairs.
Some of the wounded were in critical condition. (Mathieu Belanger/Reuters)
By 10:40 p.m., police said the situation was under control.
“The building is secure and the occupants evacuated. The investigation continues,” tweeted Quebec City police, who are working with the RCMP and provincial police.
Police patrolled the perimeter near the mosque after the shooting. (Mathieu Belanger/Reuters)
‘A Québécois accent’
A witness who asked to remain anonymous told Radio-Canada that two masked individuals entered the mosque.
“It seemed to me that they had a Québécois accent. They started to fire, and as they shot, they yelled, ‘Allahu akbar!’ The bullets hit people that were praying. People who were praying lost their lives. A bullet passed right over my head.
“There were even kids. There was even a three-year-old who was with his father,” the witness said.
People outside the mosque paid their respects. Martin St. Louis holds a sign that reads, ‘La paix non la guerre,’ which means ‘peace, not war.’ (Francis Vachon/Canadian Press)
Call for solidarity with Muslims
Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume fought back tears, saying the city is in mourning.
“To the Muslim community, our neighbours, our co-citizens, who count on our support and solidarity, I want to say, ‘We love you,'” said Labeaume.
Couillard also shared a message of solidarity with Quebec’s Muslim community.
“We are with you. You are at home. And you are welcome at home,” he said.
A few dozen people were inside the Islamic cultural centre of Quebec in the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood when the shooting began just after 8 p.m. (Canadian Press)
Politicians around the world also denounced the deadly act.
“Horrified at the news of a shooting in a mosque tonight in Québec City. We stand with our Muslim neighbours against this act of hatred,” NDP Leader Tom Mulcair tweeted.
A message on the Facebook page of the mosque’s administration said: “Thank you for the hundreds of compassionate messages coming from everywhere.”
According to Quebec City police, the shooting began just before 8 p.m. ET. (Maxime Corneau/Radio-Canada)
Vigils across the province have been planned for the coming days.
Security increased around mosques
Quebec Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux said places of worship across the province have been placed under surveillance, with police deployed close to a dozen of them.
Police are monitoring other Quebec City mosques early this morning. https://t.co/ae3EtuaC3v
Both Montreal and Gatineau, Que., police said they also will increase security and surveillance.
Quebec City police said two men were arrested. A police chase of an SUV ended with the arrest of one of the men. (Radio-Cananda)
The Islamic cultural centre of Quebec was previously the target of vandals.
Last June, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a pig’s head was left on its doorstep.
Authorities are asking anyone with information into Sunday’s attack to contact Quebec provincial police at 1-800-659-4264.
Article source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-city-mosque-gun-shots-1.3957686?cmp=rss