Adam Kovac, Special for USA TODAY
Published 4:08 a.m. ET Jan. 30, 2017
QUEBEC CITY — A man known to express anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments on social media was arraigned at the courthouse Monday in the deaths of six people and wounding of 17 others at a Quebec City mosque — a rare mass shooting in Canada and the country's first lethal attack on a mosque.
Police identified the suspect as Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, a resident of Quebec City. He faces six charges of first degree murder and five charges of attempted murder with a restricted firearm, according to Quebec City Court documents.
Authorities released the names of the victims as Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42; Abdelkrim Hassane, 41; Khaled Belkacemi, 60; Aboubaker Thabti, 44; Azzeddine Soufiane, 57 and Ibrahima Barry, 39.
A second man who had been held in custody was described as a witness and released Monday.
Five of those injured at the mosque were in critical condition and 12 others suffered minor injuries from Sunday's attack during evening prayers, according to the University of Quebec Hospital Center.
Police offered no motive for the shootings, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it an act of terror.
"We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a center of worship and refuge," Trudeau said in a statement. "It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence. Diversity is our strength, and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear."
The assault occurred amid a global uproar this weekend over President Trump’s temporary ban on admitting into the United States refugees and immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries.
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More at:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/01/30/quebec-canada-mosque-attack-terrorism/97233660/
