A university student accused of carrying out the horrific massacre on a mosque in Quebec City was a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump, a far right leader in France and the separatist Parti Quebecois as well as a bird and chess enthusiast, according to what appeared to be his Facebook account.
A handcuffed Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, made a brief court appearance Monday at which he was arraigned on six counts of first-degree murder and five of attempted murder. Wearing a white jumpsuit, the tired-looking accused stared at his feet and fidgeted during the hearing.
Bissonnette — the grandson of a decorated Second World War veteran, according to the social media profile in his name — was then remanded in custody until his next appearance Feb. 21.
Police offered no information on what they believe motivated Sunday's shooting, which Prime Minister Trudeau has denounced as a terrorist act.
"The charges that have been laid are those that were disclosed by the evidence so far," said Michel Fortin, with the Quebec prosecutor's office. "It's an ongoing investigation."
The Facebook profile in Bissonnette's name indicates that he "liked" Trump, French politician Marine Le Pen, the separatist Parti Quebecois and the Israeli armed forces. Le Pen, the leader of France's National Front in France who has won accolades from white supremacists, is known for her anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant ideology.
Hema-Quebec — which manages the blood supply in Quebec — said Monday that Bissonette is an employee of the agency.
It said in a statement that as an organization whose "primary mission is devoted to the gift of life," the arrest of Bissonette as a suspect in the mosque shooting has sent a "shock wave" through the organization.
Hema-Quebec also said it would not comment further due to ongoing police investigation.
The U.S.-based Site Intelligence Group called it "unlikely" that Bissonnette had any Jihadi ties in light of the postings.
According to police and witnesses, a man entered the mosque and opened fire without warning during evening prayers, sowing death, injury and panic. Six worshippers were killed and 19 wounded — all men. Of the five victims who remained in hospital Monday, two were in critical condition, authorities said.
The horrific act prompted several vigils across the country and expressions of sympathy from around the world.
Bissonnette, who according to the Facebook account was from Cap-Rouge, Que., was enrolled in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Universite Laval said in a statement. He has now been banned from all studies or research activities until the court process is over, the school said. The student directory lists him as pursuing an undergraduate degree in political science.
One Facebook picture showed a boy dressed as an army cadet. Canadian Cadet Organizations said in a statement that Bissonnette was in the cadet program in the Quebec City area between 2002 and 2004. The national program focuses on developing leadership and citizenship skills as well as physical fitness. Cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces and do not receive military training, the organization said.
Among groups to which he belonged — according to the Facebook profile, which has since been taken down — was the Laval chess club and a birding group. The account also had numerous selfies of the neatly groomed young man, who appeared to be a blues fan.
Another "like" was for the Parti Quebecois association in Louis-Hebert, a riding in Quebec's national capital region currently held by a Liberal member, and another for H.G. Wells, author of the 1890s science-fiction novel "War of the Worlds."
Francois Deschamps, who runs a French-language web group called Bienvenue au refugies — Welcome Refugees — said Bissonnette was always making hateful comments.
"It's with pain and anger that we learn the identity of terrorist Alexandre Bissonnette, unfortunately known to many activists in Quebec for taking nationalist, pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist positions at Laval University and on social media," Deschamps wrote on the page of the group.
However, Bissonnette's online profile offered few clues to the mass shooting he is accused of carrying out.
His favourite citation, according to the Facebook page, was taken from the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato:
"For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories."
NEIGHBOURS DESCRIBE QUEBEC SHOOTING SUSPECT AS QUIET MAN WHO LOVED GUNS AS A KID
QUEBEC — Neighbours on a sleepy suburban street where the man charged in the Quebec City mosque shooting was raised say as a kid he played baseball, swam in backyard pools and explored the nearby forest like many local boys.
One man who has lived across from Alexandre Bissonnette's family home for about 30 years also says the suspect has long had a passion for guns — even when he was about 10 years old.
Rejean Bussieres, whose son is about the same age, says Bissonnette used to shoot pellet guns in the woods behind his house as a youngster and would invite his son to come over to watch violent movies.
Bissonnette, now 27 years old, faces murder and attempted murder charges in the Sunday night massacre that left six dead and 19 wounded.
He briefly appeared in court on Monday and his next scheduled appearance is Feb. 21. None of the allegations against him has been proven in court.
Another neighbour whose son is about the same age as Bissonnette says he has long been quiet yet pleasant and that his parents are very kind people.
Nicole, who would only provide her first name, says Bissonnette's mother recently told her that her son had become an exceptional piano player. She says she saw Bissonnette about a week ago while she was talking to his parents on the street.
CANADIANS MOURN VICTIMS OF QUEBEC CITY MOSQUE ATTACK IN VIGILS ACROSS COUNTRY
Roseline Bouchard wept quietly as she stood in the front row at a Quebec City vigil Monday just down the street from a mosque that was the scene of a deadly shooting that grabbed the world's attention.
In front of Bouchard, religious and political leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, condemned a massacre that left six men dead and wounded 19.
Behind her, a huge crowd of hundreds of people came together in the biting cold to grieve and to show their support for the Muslim community.
Alexandre Bissonnette, a 27-year-old Laval University student, is charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.
At vigils across Canada on Monday, thousands of people stood in solidarity with Muslims.
Earlier in the day, Bouchard, a Muslim, said she offered her support directly to the wives of four men who were gunned down in the attack during prayers in the city's Ste-Foy area.
The husbands of three of the women she met Monday died from their injuries. The other man, she added, was hit by five bullets and was fighting for his life.
"We hugged, we kissed, we were all sisters in humanity," said Bouchard, who's concerned about the future. "It's not easy — there's a lot of work to do to rebuild the bridge between people. ... The hatred has to end."
From the stage, Trudeau said the first names of each of the victims. He told the crowd that Muslim Canadians are valued members of every community.
"The six men who were killed and all the others who were wounded do not represent a threat — they were ordinary Canadians like us all," said Trudeau, whose eyes welled up as religious leaders spoke.
"Unspeakable cruelty and violence perpetrated on those who came together in friendship and in faith. We stand with you, we love you and we support you."
The Quebec City vigil, which was followed by a march, was one of many events held across Canada.
In Montreal, subway entrances and streets were swarmed as several thousand people made their way to a vigil.
Many carried candles and openly wept as local Muslim speakers went onstage to denounce Islamophobia. Others carried signs and stood atop a snowbank chanting anti-racist slogans as a crowd cheered below.
"I’m very sad but it calms me and gives me hope to see our co-citizens share our pain," said Behnas, who held a sign that read: "I'm Muslim, I'm Canadian, I'm a Quebecer and I'm sad."
On Parliament Hill, Gov. Gen. David Johnston addressed a gathering of hundreds of people on a frigid night. He said Canadians must come together.
The crowd stood silently as the names of the six people killed in the attack were read aloud.
In Halifax, hundreds turned out in front of city hall — a gathering spot illuminated by candles. People stood silently in tribute.
Visibly emotional, Mayor Mike Savage told the crowd that he was "heartbroken" by the senseless act of violence in Quebec City.
"It's just a chance to light a candle and let people know we will not be defeated by these kind of acts," Savage said of the gathering.
The crowd observed a moment of silence before a lone trumpeter softly played "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as a tribute.
Imam Syed Shah told the crowd the killings during prayer at the mosque were a "cowardly act."
"I thank all of you for coming out with a candle in your hands to show solidarity and to show that we condemn these kind of terrorist attacks," he said.
In Western Canada, hundreds turned out at vigils in large cities including Winnipeg, Regina and Calgary.
In Winnipeg, support and prayers were offered, along with on offer from the Manitoba Islamic Association.
“Come visit the mosque and see what it’s like if you’ve never been here,” said Tasneem Vali. “We welcome you."
In Calgary, where the flag at city hall was lowered in honour of the shooting victims, there were also expressions of fear.
“I’m very horrified and quite concerned about the well-being of Canadian Muslims and the safety and security of our mosques and our women and our children and our men,” said Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy.
Calgary police have increased their patrols of local mosques but said they have received no specific threats.
“We stand with the community during this difficult time," said acting deputy chief Cliff O'Brien, who said patrol members were asked to stop by mosques that morning if they had time. "For those worshippers, what it does is, I think, it lets them know that we do care and that we’re out there and that increased presence is a good thing."
In Regina, shouts of “We love you” and “We stand with you” were heard as speakers addressed the crowd.
Russell Mitchell-Walker, a United Church minister, was there to show his support to the Muslim community: “I have a very important belief that faith is really important, and it doesn’t matter what kind of faith."
Back in Quebec City, Asma Nisabour, who moved from Morocco 10 years ago, was encouraged to see so many people at the vigil.
The crowd was so large that it spilled far beyond a large church parking lot and down nearby streets.
"It's a good sign people are here," Nisabour said. "It shows people reject any act of terrorism, any act of Islamophobia."
