ADDS DETAILS
By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Ont. (AA) – Five people are believed dead and others wounded in a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City, Canada, Canadian media reported Monday.
The mosque’s president told media about the attack and it was confirmed by Quebec City police.
There were a few dozen people in the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec and it is feared multiple of them may be wounded,” the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
“Why is this happening here?” mosque president Mohamed Yangui said. “This is barbaric.”
Police tweeted there have been deaths and injuries, but have not confirmed the numbers.
Two suspects are in custody, media reported. Police said there may be other shooters involved, according to CTV television.
The Huffington Post Canada news website reported that a bystander said in Arabic: “This is the result of Trump”, prompting a response from Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard who posted a message on Twitter.
“Quebec categorically rejects this barbaric violence,” he said. “All our solidarity to those close to the victims, the injured and to their families.”
A large perimeter has been set up to secure the crime scene where a heavy police presence continues, the mosque’s Facebook page shows.
The shooting occurred about 8 p.m. local time (0100GMT).
Ralph Goodale, Canada’s public safety minister, tweeted that he is saddened by the deaths and his office said no motive has been confirmed.
In June, a pig’s head was left at the mosque’s door along with a note, “Bon appetit”, during the holy month of Ramadan. Consumption of pork is prohibited for Muslims.
In 2015, a man in a Joker’s mask in a YouTube video complained about and threatened Quebec Muslims, saying that if the government would not do anything about them, he would.
The attack comes amid widespread protests across the U.S. in defiance of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that bans immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.
