6 dead, 2 arrested in Canada mosque shooting!

An ambulance is parked at the scene of a fatal shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City, Canada
(Reuters)

• Quebec City police spokesman Constable Pierre Poirier said two suspects were arrested.

Reuters/Cananda

Six people were killed in a shooting at a Quebec City mosque during evening prayers, the president of the center said Sunday. Authorities reported two arrests in what Quebec's premier and Canada's prime minister called an act of terrorism.

Quebec City Islamic Cultural Centre President Mohamed Yangui reported the number of dead late Sunday in a telephone call from the provincial capital.

Yangui said the shooting happened in the men's section of the mosque. He said five males had died and he worried that some were children. He said he wasn't at the center when the attack occurred, but he got some details from people on the scene.

He said an estimated 60-100 people would have been there at the time of the shooting. "We are sad for the families," he said.
Canada PM condemns shooting as 'terrorist attack'

Authorities did not confirm the number of fatalities. Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard characterised the attack as a terrorist act, which came amid heightened tensions worldwide over US President Donald Trump's travel ban on certain Muslim countries.

"We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre 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.


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

"Muslim-Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, cities and country," he added. "Canadian law enforcement agencies will protect the rights of all Canadians, and will make every effort to apprehend the perpetrators of this act and all acts of intolerance."

Quebec City police spokesman Constable Pierre Poirier said two suspects were arrested. Police said the mosque had been evacuated and things were under control.

Trudeau said on Twitter that he spoke to Quebec's premier and was being briefed by officials. The prime minister said the government had offered "any & all assistance needed."

Trudeau had earlier reacted to Trump's visa ban for people from certain Muslim-majority countries by tweeting Saturday: "To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength (hash)WelcomeToCanada."

Trudeau also posted a picture of him greeting a Syrian child at Toronto's airport in late 2015. Trudeau oversaw the arrival of more than 39,000 Syrian refugees soon after he was elected.

Couillard termed the Sunday mosque attack as "barbaric violence" and expressed solidarity with the victims' families.