Quebec premier, Muslim leaders denounce deadly mosque attack

In a gesture of solidarity, leaders from Quebec City's Muslim community stood side by side with Premier Philippe Couillard and Mayor Rgis Labeaume to denounce yesterday's deadly attack on a local mosque.

"Quebec and Canada haveto remain a beacon of tolerance,"Couillardsaid at a news conference Monday.

"It's normal in times of crisis to talk about inclusion, but the real challenge will be to maintain that two weeks from now."

• Learn more about victims of the attack

At times, the premier appeared close to tears as he listened to theremarks of Muslim men and women, some of whom had lostfriends in the shooting.

"I can't express the terrible sorrow that has afflicted our community with this tragedy, which occurred in a place of worship and with people who were praying," said Mohamed Labidi, former president of the Quebec City mosque, theCentreCulturelIslamiquedeQubec(Islamic cultural centre of Quebec).

"We are all touched by thesolidarity,and it warms our heart and it lessens our sorrow."

Suspect charged with 1st-degree murder

Sixmendied and more than a dozen were wounded when shots were fired inside the mosque duringevening prayers on Sunday.

The motive, for the moment, remains unclear.

AlexandreBissonnettea 27-year-old Laval University student from the nearby Quebec City suburb of Cap-Rouge appeared in a Quebec courtlate Monday and was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts ofattempted murder with a restricted weapon.

• Quebec City mosque attack suspect identified as Alexandre Bissonnette

He was will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Feb. 21.

Another man was arrested outside the mosque within minutes of the shooting. By early Monday afternoon, provincial police said that man was no longer a suspect, but a witness to the shooting.

Earlier Monday, Quebec City policeInsp. DenisTurcottedescribed how a second man had called 911 at 8:10 p.m. Sunday 25 minutes after the shooting.Turcottesaid thatman told them he wasarmed and had been involved in the shooting.

"He seemed towant to co-operate,"Turcottesaid, telling policehe was parked near the bridge onled'Orlans, where he was arrested without incident.

Five people wounded in the attackare still in hospital. Two will need more surgery, while the other three are stable and may be discharged soon. Another 13 people have been released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

'Act of terrorism,' politicians concur

Couillard, Prime Minister JustinTrudeauand Quebec provincial police have allcalled the attack a terrorist act.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard speaks to Muslim community

8 years ago

Duration 0:17

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard speaks to Muslim community after six people were killed in an attack in a Quebec City mosque.

"We know that this horror was based on intolerance to one specific community. It'stoo early to say what themessagethey want to send," Couillardsaid.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre cut short a trip to Europe, where he was promoting Montreal's 375thanniversary, and flew home as soon as he learned about the shooting.

"I was disgusted this morning when I heard the tragedy that happened in Quebec City," he said.

Coderre said he'd just been to Nice to meet the mayor and pay tribute to victims of last year's terrorist attack in that city, and he'd planned to travel to Berlin to do the same.

Surrounded by members of Montreal's Muslim community and leaders of other faiths, Coderrespoke of the need for unity.

"It is not a time to build walls," Coderre said. "It is a time to build bridges."

Mosque targeted in the past

TheIslamic cultural centre of Quebec was previouslythe target of xenophobic messaging and vandalism.

Last June, during the Muslim holy month ofRamadan,a pig's head was left on itsdoorstep.

• Pig's head left on front steps of Quebec City mosque last year

Investigators, however,have not found any connection between that eventand Sunday's shooting, saidRobert Pigeon, Quebec City's police chief.

Politicians and community leaders will attend a vigil in Quebec City Monday evening. Other ceremonies have been planned across the country.

A message on the mosque's Facebook pagesaid:"Thank you for thehundredsof compassionate messages coming from everywhere."

• From Paris to NYC to a Syrian girl, world mourns Quebec mosque shooting