Alexandre Bissonnette has been accused of killing six people and wounding eight others in a “barbaric” massacre Sunday night at a Quebec City mosque, TVA News reports.
The 27-year-old entered the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec and opened fire with a rifle, shooting members of the mosque as they prayed, police and witnesses say.
He is in police custody and was being questioned Monday morning. He is expected to face murder charges.
Mohamed Khadir ne serait plus un suspect #fusillade, confirme @felixseguin
— Jean-Nic Blanchet (@jnblanchetJDQ) January 30, 2017
A second man, Mohamed el Khadir, was previously identified by authorities as a suspect. He was taken into custody near the mosque and questioned, but Quebec Provincial Police said in a tweet Monday afternoon that he is no longer considered to be a suspect. He is now being called a witness.
In what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Philippe Couillard both called a "terrorist attack," six people were killed and eight others injured in a shooting at a Quebec City mosque on Sunday.
Provincial police spokeswoman Christine Coulombe said 39 other people survived and that two suspects were in custody.
Coulombe said a joint terrorism task force that includes provincial police, the RCMP and Montreal police was deployed.
MORE: Second individual arrested in Quebec mosque shooting is now considered a witness - police
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) January 30, 2017
The victims are believed to be between 35 and about 70, she said.
One of the suspects was arrested not far from the mosque, while the other was arrested near Ile-d'Orleans, just east of Quebec City's downtown core.
"For the moment, nothing leads us to believe there are other suspects linked to the event, but you'll understand we're not taking any chances and we're making the necessary verifications to make sure there aren't any," Coulombe said.
Police would not talk about the type of weapon used in the slayings at the mosque, which had a pig's head left outside the building last June.
Tonight, Canadians grieve for those killed in a cowardly attack on a mosque in Quebec City. My thoughts are with victims & their families.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 30, 2017
Trudeau issued a statement Sunday to denounce the killings.
"We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge," he said.
"On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of all those who have died, and we wish a speedy recovery to those who have been injured."
Couillard also called the incident a terrorist attack and said the national assembly will lower flags to half-mast.
"All our solidarity is with those who are close to the victims, the injured and their families," he said in a statement.
Couillard called a news conference early Monday morning and said there is no doubt in his mind the killings constituted an act of terrorism.
"This is a murderous act perpetrated against a specific community and with considerable means," he said. "You can't play around with semantics here."
The premier made an impassioned plea to Quebec Muslims.
"We are with you, you are at home, you are welcome at home, we are all Quebecers," he said. "We must continue to build a society together that is open, welcoming and peaceful. We will do it because we have the energy to do it and the will to do it."
A live video feed on a Facebook page of the mosque showed images of multiple police vehicles and yellow police tape.
Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume attended the same news conference and said his thoughts went out to the victims and their families.
"We have the impression we are dreaming," said Labeaume. "Quebec City, this magnificent city, is in mourning. I have often said in recent weeks that, despite the peace we have here, we are not immune (to attacks). Well, this has just proven that."
The mosque issued a Facebook statement early Monday after confirmation of the six dead.
"All our thoughts are with the children who have to be told their father has died," said the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec
"May Allah give them patience and strength."
Neighbourhood resident Carol-Ann Andrews said such an attack was "pretty surprising" for Quebec City.
"My thoughts went immediately to what was happening in the United States with all the laws and all the immigrants that are not allowed to come back," she said.
"Unfortunately there are people in the world whose minds are not totally OK so it could have given them an idea to get rid of other people. It's pathetic."
Asked whether she feels safe, she replied, "We're not safe anywhere any more."
Police blocked the area off, while a coffee shop stayed open beyond normal hours and served free coffee. The mosque is across the street from a big stone church
Vigils are planned in Montreal and Quebec City on Monday.
'JUST THE BEGINNING': IMAM TALKS OF FEAR, INCREASED SECURITY AFTER QUEBEC ATTACK
The attack that killed six men at a Quebec City mosque has stoked Canadian Muslims' growing safety fears.
Imam Zia Khan of the Centre for Islamic Development in Halifax says some members fear it's the start of increased violence and are calling for more security measures.
He says news of the mosque shooting has shocked and frightened a minority Muslim community that was already on edge.
He says his local mosque has been targeted in the past with graffiti and hate mail urging followers to leave the country.
Quebec police say they've stepped up security around mosques in that province.
Two suspects were arrested after six men aged 39 to 60 were killed and several others wounded during the attack late Sunday in Quebec City's Ste-Foy neighbourhood.
Last June, a pig's head was left at the entrance of the mosque, the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec.
In Toronto, Mayor John Tory said on Twitter that he has spoken with his city's police service "to make sure all steps are being taken to keep our citizens safe."
TRUMP CALLS TRUDEAU TO OFFER CONDOLENCES IN WAKE OF MOSQUE ATTACK
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed his condolences to Canadians today in the wake of a deadly shooting at a mosque in Quebec City.
A spokeswoman for Trudeau says Trump also "offered to provide any assistance as needed."
Trudeau is planning to travel to Quebec City later today as the country reels from the deadly shooting, which took place at the Centre culturel islamique de Quebec.
Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will travel with him.
Trudeau also plans to make a formal statement about the tragedy in the House of Commons, where Parliament is resuming after the Christmas break.
No other details were immediately released. The prime minister has condemned the incident as a terrorist attack.
Six people between the ages of 35 and 70, were killed in the bloody massacre that took place Sunday at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec in Quebec City's Sainte-Foy neighbourhood.
At least 12 other people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, according to the Centre Hospitalier Universite Laval.
Police had two suspects in custody Sunday night — one was arrested not far from the mosque while another was arrested just east of Quebec City's downtown core.
MPs on both sides of the House of Commons shared their reactions as they returned to Ottawa Monday morning.
Conservative MP Sylvie Boucher, who represents a riding in the Quebec City area, had tears in her eyes as she described her reaction to the attack.
She said she spoke to her daughters Monday morning before leaving for Ottawa and told them to share a positive message with their Muslim friends.
"Tell them the door will always be open," she said.
